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Nicole Klein Amanda Berg Advanced Comp 30 October 2013 Ancient Egyptians Resources The Ancient Egyptians created the Pyramids of Giza, which are known as one of the only Seven Wonders of the World that still stand today (Krystek). The Egyptians made the pyramids out of limestone, which is a resource found all over Egypt. This makes one wonder about other resources they found and what they made of them. It clearly shows that the Ancient Egyptians were very resourceful people, due to the fact that they created the pyramid, which was advanced for that time era. And still inventing items years later, the Egyptians discovered a plant and figured out how to make paper and other useful items out of it. From Papyrus to Pyramids the Egyptians found many resources that the land offered and figured out how to invent something that would move down from generation to generation. Ancient Egyptians biggest resource used was the Nile River and still is today, not only a resource in Egypt, but all throughout Africa. The Nile was a major route for communication and travels in ancient times. During ancient times, the pharaoh of Egypt would send messengers on boats to give messages or presents to people ("Natural Resources in Ancient Egypt"). It was also used to transport soldiers and food up and down the river (PBS). The Nile also provided water for farms by having an annual flood every year. Each year the Nile had its annual flood for three months, which made the soil around the Nile fertile, which helped crops grow. Besides providing resources for Egyptians the Nile also provided entertainment. Families took their children out on the river to fish, swim, or would even take a boat out to enjoy a day on the river ("Natural

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Resources in Ancient Egypt"). Another resource used was Flax which was found growing in water. Flax was found in the Nile Valley and was a unique resource that the Egyptians used to make cloth. Byssus flax which was fine and very small fiber that was used to make the linen cloth that the Egyptians wore as clothes (Warden). They did so by taking out the core of the plant, soaking it in water for a week or more, then they would beat and separate it into parts that would be spun made into cloth (Dollinger). Like many other plants flax could have taken 100 to 110 days to fully grow. Flax could have grown to be about 60 centimeters to a meter in height. Flax is also known for being one of the strongest plants. When the plant got wet the amount of pectin that the linen had in it would make it stronger and more durable. The cloth was one of the fastest drying cloths and the highest resistances to decay than any other cloth during that time era (Dollinger). From the Byssus flax plant to the Cyperus Papyrus plant was another resource found. The Cyperus papyrus plant was a freshwater plant that could grow in water about a meter high. The papyrus plant could grow up to 4 or 5 meters in height, and has a triangular-shaped stem. The stem was 15 centimeters across that helped it from breaking during wind storms. When processed carefully and properly, papyrus could be used for many different items. Papyrus could be made into baskets, ropes, sandals, medicine and paper. The most common item that the Egyptians used papyrus to make was paper. They would pull the plant out by its stems; cut it into strips, overlaid them into horizontal and vertical layers, and then they would put those layers under pressure and pound them together (What is Papyrus). With every resource the ancient Egyptians were given they found a way to make useful items out of them.

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The Egyptians were very intelligent people that created the pyramids and papyrus. They did so by using resources they found that the land offered to them that could be passed down throughout many generations. Main resources that got covered were the Nile River, the Byssus flax plant, and the Cyperus papyrus plant. Finding out that they could create all of that through natural resources, it makes one realize that, from life to death the Egyptians used everything that the land offered them to create things that could outlast thousands of years.

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Work Cited Krystek, Lee. N.p.. Web. 30 Oct 2013. "Natural Resources in Ancient Egypt." . History Source LLC., n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2013. PBS "Natural Resources." Egypt's Golden Empire. Devillier Donegan Enterprises, 12 March 2006. Web. 30 Oct 2013. Baines, J.. "Harnessing the Nile." The Story of the Nile . BBC, n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2013. O'Toole, Tommy, and Jason Brackett. "The Nile River ." Nile Rivers Resources . Tangient LLC, n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2013. Dollinger, Andr. N.p.. Web. 30 Oct 2013. Warden, Alex J. "Ancient Egyptian Linen." A Fabric Collectors Diary. BELOVEDLINENS.NET, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2013. anonymous, . "What is Papyrus." Egyptian Papyrus . Egyptian-papyrus.co.uk., n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2013.