00:00What made ancient Egypt one of the greatest civilizations in history?
00:04The answer began with a river, the Nile.
00:08Each year, the Nile flooded its banks, bringing water into a land where rainfall was extremely limited.
00:15When the waters receded, they left behind a layer of rich, fertile soil,
00:20creating some of the most productive farmland in the ancient world.
00:23Farmers used this fertile land to grow the crops that supported almost every part of Egyptian society.
00:30Wheat and barley became essential foods,
00:32while vegetables and flax provided additional resources for daily life, clothing, and trade.
00:37But the harvest was not only for individual families.
00:41Much of the grain was collected, measured, and stored by the state.
00:45Grain became the foundation of the economy.
00:48It fed the population, supported workers, and helped provide supplies throughout the kingdom.
00:53The agricultural surplus also helped support Egypt's army,
00:57allowing soldiers to travel, defend the kingdom, and serve the pharaoh.
01:01The Nile also became Egypt's greatest transportation route,
01:05connecting farms, cities, temples, and markets across the kingdom.
01:09The wealth created by agriculture helped support craftsmen, builders, officials,
01:14and the massive construction projects that made Egypt famous.
01:18The Nile was more than a river.
01:21It was the lifeline that made Egyptian civilization possible.
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