Egypt 　　Pyramidsandpharaohs,mummiesandmagic,picturewritingonpapyrus—ancientEgypthadallthis,andmuchmore.Rich,powerful,andpeace-loving,thisNorthAfricankingdomwashometoasplendidcivilizationthatlasted3,000years,fromabout3300bcto30bc. 　　REDLAND,BLACKLAND 　　AncientEgyptwasavastterritory,stretching700miles(1,100kilometers)southwardfromtheMediterraneanSea.Mostofitwashot,dry,anddusty.TheEgyptianscalleditDeshret(redland).Buttheworld’slongestriver,theNile,runsthroughthisdesert.Everyyear,theriverfloodedthesurroundingland.Thefloodsleftsticky,smellymudcoveringthelandalongtheriverbanks.EgyptianscalledtheriversideareaKemet(blackland).Thislandwasveryfertile.About5000bc,theancientEgyptiansbuiltsomeoftheworld’sfirstfarmsandvillagesthere. 　　THEGIFTOFTHENILE 　　Egyptwassometimescalled“thegiftoftheNile.”AllEgyptianlifedependedontheriver.Farmersdugditchestobringitswatertofieldsofwheat,grapes,andonions.Richnobles,towntraders,andpoorcountryfamiliesallbuilthomesmadeofsun-driedrivermud.CraftspeopleshapedclayfromtheNileintopottery,andwoveclothfromtheflaxplantthatgrewonitsbanks.Familiescaughtfishandriverbirdsforfood.Childrenplayedinriversidepools,buttheyhadtowatchoutforkillercrocodiles!