A Look Into
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Agriculture
Much of what made Ancient Egypt a thriving civilization was based on their agricultural resources. Being located on the Nile River provided numerous opportunities for the inhabitants of this wealthy land to make a successful living. Without this form of wealth, it would not have been possible to feed this nation or bring in goods from other countries. Because agriculture was the key, it has left researchers asking questions such as: What tools did they use for planting and growing crops? The incorporation of animals into their work leaves us wondering which ones benefitted them the most and how they were used. What were the main crops they harvested for food? Asking and answering these questions leads us to understanding the importance agriculture played in the uprising of this civilization.
To begin answering questions such as these, it is crucial to reiterate the importance of the location in which Egypt lay. In many ways, the Nile set up all of the groundwork needed for cultivation. With the flooding that occurred every year around the same time, it provided soil enriched with nutrients to grow a variety of crops, promising farmers a rich harvest. Although there were periods where the Nile proved to be destructive, such as when it flooded and destroyed the hard work of the farmers, it always came back to rejuvenate the devastation it created[1]. During these cycles when the Nile was no longer a reliable source, famine struck and people attempted to make up for the loss by preserving their resources as much as possible. The Egyptians set out to become more technologically advanced by building dams and basins to hold in water for future irrigation in an effort to avoid starvation. They used tools such as the shaduf, a bucket that is lowered into the water by a pole and is retrieved by pulling on a counter weight that lifts it out of the water, and a Nileometer, used to measure the height of the river[2]. Other tools used in the actual farming process included hoes, winnowing scoops, rakes, flint-bladed sickles and ploughs[3]. These instruments helped to turn the soil and create an efficient system in which the crops they intended to harvest could grow. They began to incorporate animals, such as oxen or cattle to help plough the fields. They would tie the plough to the horns of the oxen or cattle and another farmer, sometimes a child, would lead the way with a stick[4]. Mules became useful for hauling large amounts during the harvesting season, making these animals very beneficial.
Among the many crops that were grown and harvested in Egypt, grains were the most popular. Emmer wheat and barley served as the most important sources and were the first thing to be planted when growing season approached[5]. Once the necessary grains were harvested, they began to grow various fruits and vegetables, including: grapes, melons, figs, onions, leeks, beans, lettuce, and cabbage. The most relevant crops, being the grains, were used to make the two most important items; bread and beer. Beginning with the basics to make bread, wheat was ground and crushed into flour and the simplest recipe called for only flour and water. It was combined and kneaded into dough that was cooked on a shelf over a fire inside of a clay oven[6]. Beer also served as an important asset to the Egyptians’ diet during this time. It was a beverage that was enjoyed among those of wealth and poverty. Beer could be brewed using two methods: using bread that came from yeasty dough, then using the crumbs and water to strain it through a sieve and add flavoring using dates, and eventually letting it ferment and storing it in large jars; or by using wheat or barley and heating it with yeast and uncooked malt, then allowing it to ferment[7]. This beverage was typically brewed by women of the time and traded as a good or used to bring in extra money (http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/beer). Porridge was another product of wheat that was commonly served, though there are not many ancient recipes to be found.
With the many uses that agriculture provided, it is no wonder how it was a gold mine for this civilization. Not only did it provide food for an entire country, but we will discuss later how it created an economy for Egypt as well. Now that it is known how this practice has come about, it opens up a portal for understanding how Egypt became as successful as it was.
Bibliography
"Agriculture and Horticulture in Ancient Egypt." An Introduction to the History and Culture of Pharaonic Egypt. N.p., 2000. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
Barrow, Mandy. “Ancient Egyptian Farming.” Primary Homework Help for Kids.
Boulos, Loutfy, and Ahmed Gamal-El-Din Fahmy. “Grasses in Ancient Egypt.” Kew Bulletin, Vol. 62, No. 3 (Springer, 2007): 507-511
Hill, Jenny. “Beer in Ancient Egypt”. Ancient Egypt Online, 2012.
Hughes, Donald J. “Sustainable Agriculture in Ancient Egypt.” Agricultural History, Vol. 66, No. 2, (Agricultural History Society, 1992): 12-22
Jules, Janick. "Ancient Egyptian Agriculture and the Origins of Horticulture." January 1, 2002.
McGovern, Patrick E., Armen Mirzoian, Gretchen R. Hall and Ofer Bar-Yosef. “Ancient Egyptian Herbal Wines” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106, no. 18 (2009): 7361-7366.
Wilson, Hilary. “Ancient Egypt-Bread.” Ancient Foods, August 12, 2011.
[1] Hughes, Donald J. “Sustainable Agriculture in Ancient Egypt.” Agricultural History, Vol. 66, No. 2, (Agricultural History Society, 1992): 12-22
[2] Barrow, Mandy. “Ancient Egyptian Farming.” Primary Homework Help for Kids.
[3] Refer to citation above.
[4] "Agriculture and Horticulture in Ancient Egypt." An Introduction to the History and Culture of Pharaonic Egypt. N.p., 2000. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
[5] Boulos, Loutfy, and Ahmed Gamal-El-Din Fahmy. “Grasses in Ancient Egypt.” Kew Bulletin, Vol. 62, No. 3 (Springer, 2007): 507-511
[6] Wilson, Hilary. “Ancient Egypt-Bread.” Ancient Foods, August 12, 2011.
[7] Hill, Jenny. “Beer in Ancient Egypt”. Ancient Egypt Online, 2012.