Answer to Question #161718 in History for Darus

Question

What new capital city stayed dry during the flooding of the nile

Answer 1

Between June and September, during a season the Egyptians called akhet, the River Nile flooded every year. In the Ethiopian Mountains, melting snow and heavy summer rain sent a flood of water causing the banks of Egypt's Nile River to overflow on flat desert land. This was one of the most significant events of the Ancient Egyptians' lives because the floods brought rich black soil and the farmland was renovated.

The civilization of Egypt grew along the river. On the east side of the river, the vast majority of the towns were situated, while most of the tombs were built on the west side of the river. The east side, where the sun was rising and the west side, where the sun was setting. Temples and palaces and most of the important buildings were constructed at the edge of the desert so that they would stay dry throughout the flood. It was Memphis, the new capital city of ancient Cairo, which stayed dry during the flood because it was built on the edge of the desert. Upper and Lower Egypt were united by Pharaoh and his capital was built at a location just a few miles southwest of modern Cairo. It was after the end of the ancient period that the tradition of building on fertile land started.