The famous Greek historian, Herodotus, once wrote that "Egypt ... is, so to speak, the gift of the Nile." What did he mean and was he right?

Question

Andrew Chung

History

4 January, 20:16

The famous Greek historian, Herodotus, once wrote that "Egypt ... is, so to speak, the gift of the Nile." What did he mean and was he right?

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Brighton · Answer 1

I think he meant that the existence of Egypt was only possible because of the river Nile.

Egypt is a very hostile place to live: it's mostly a very dry desert, where nothing would grow: only because of the water that Nile brings is agriculture and food production possible in Egypt.

In that sense I agree that life in Egypt is the gift of the Nile.