The economy
Importance of the Nile to the economy
Economic exchange:
Technological development
- Nile is central to Egypt and is a constant factor of the daily life.
- Provided life giving water and fertile silt which was vital as there is no rain in Egypt.
- If the flooding was poor, the pharaoh might be given the boot because the flooding is vital to ensure the productivity of the land for the coming season.
- The economy revolved around the pharaoh and so because the pharaoh is close to the gods, he was responsible for the Nile.
- Majority of the internal economy was based on the Nile.
- The inundation of the Nile and the depositing of the silt from the Nile was vital to the crop, hence the economy.
- Wealth of the country depended greatly on the extent of the height of the flood. Too little meant starvation but too much meant destruction and devastation.
- Most of the population worked in the land of the pharaoh, or the land he granted to temples.
- The Temples had to pay the agricultural workers, temple priests, artisans, general servants and tax from its income of grain, cattle and other agricultural produce.
- The Nile also provided fish for the public and was used as a highway to transport men, grain, animals and stone.
Economic exchange:
- No coinage in the Ramesside period of Egypt.
- All exchanges were made by bartering.
- Unit of value was the Deben - based on weight of metals, oils or grains and measured against stone weights on a measuring scale.
- Internal taxation system was managed by the Pharaoh and was vital to the economy.
- Tax was paid to the local monarch who managed it to pay workers, temples and other expenses for the king.
- The proportion of tax due is thought to have been determined by the height of the inundation measured at the nilometer.
- Egypt internationally traded with Byblos, Syria and Palestine.
- Two of the principal sources of Egypt's economic wealth throughout the New Kingdom period was tribute and trade.
Technological development
- Due to large scale expansion of the period, Egypt became exposed to new resources and items, which contributed to new technological developments resulting in eco, social and military benefits for the economy.
- New tools were introduced which made trade and making easier.
- Building materials such as mud helped make mud bricks, stone and pyramids.