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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History

Meghan Middleton

5 February, 20:10

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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Abraham Mcdowell · 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.