Pre-Dynastic North East
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Welcome to The Nile Valley Level 1, Lesson 1: Pre-Dynastic North East
In this lesson, you will learn about:
How people lived in this area of Africa over 12,000 years ago
People’s diets
Some of the discoveries that have been made by archaeologists
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will understand:
How Africans farmed
Some of the earliest forms of art and science
Did you know that Africans were the first people to grow crops?
Over 12,000 years ago in the floodplains of the Nile, people farmed many plants and grains. The likes of barley, dates, chickpeas, lentils, wheat and legumes were all grown year after year. The tools of these ancient farmers were recovered, which included grindstones and blades similar to those that are still used in farming today.
During the early summer months, the Nile would flood and deposit minerals into the soil, making the area ideal for farming. As the Nile receded, catfish were left stranded in ponds, and they were smoked and eaten. People would then plant crops on the mineral-rich soil after the fish were finished.
Hunting was also a major activity as wild cattle, gazelles, ducks, and even hippos were captured and eaten. In the winter, the crops planted a few months prior were harvested and ground to make flour, which was an important ingredient. By the next summer, the Nile would flood again and the process would be repeated.
Art from this region has been uncovered, with some of the earliest paintings depicting both people and animals. Elephants, giraffes, lions, crocodiles, cattle and hippos were painted onto rock surfaces thousands of years ago. This early Nile Valley culture also appeared to have a deep understanding of astronomy, developing the very first calendars based on the stars.