Ancient Egypt was located in the northeastern corner of Africa. It stretched along the banks of the longest river in the world, the Nile. This great river starts in the heart of Africa and spills into the Mediterranean Sea to the north.

The ancient Egyptians thought of Egypt as being divided into two types of land, the 'black land' and the 'red land'.

The 'black land' was the fertile land on the banks of the Nile. The ancient Egyptians used this land for growing their crops. This was the only land in ancient Egypt that could be farmed because a layer of rich, black silt was deposited there every year after the Nile flooded.

The 'red land' was the barren desert that protected Egypt on two sides. These deserts separated ancient Egypt from neighboring countries and invading armies. They also provided the ancient Egyptians with a source for precious metals and semi-precious stones.

Look at the map below that shows the terrain of Egypt. Do your best to locate the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. What advantages were offered by the geography here?

Text adapted from British Museum - Ancient Egypt