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Correct Answer: silt deposited in the annual floods of the nile made the land along the river’s banks and marshes arable and habitable.
herodotus, known as the "father of history," often included insights from his travels and interactions with various cultures in his works. in the second book of his *histories*, which primarily focuses on egypt, he mentions a conversation with the priests of memphis who described egypt as a "gift of the river." this statement highlights the crucial role the nile river played in the development and sustenance of ancient egyptian civilization. the correct explanation for this statement is that the silt deposited by the annual floods of the nile made the land along the river’s banks and marshes arable and habitable.
this phenomenon occurred because the nile, unique among the world's major rivers, predictably floods annually. these floods were so regular that the egyptians could plan their agricultural activities around them. the floodwaters deposited nutrient-rich silt on the riverbanks, creating fertile land ideal for agriculture. this silt, or loess, provided a fertile ground for the egyptians to plant crops, most notably, the staples such as wheat and barley. without the annual flooding and the deposition of this silt, the surrounding areas would have remained desert, incapable of supporting the population centers that were necessary for the development of such a complex society.
moreover, the water from the nile was not only useful for depositing fertile soil but was also harnessed through an intricate system of dikes, canals, and irrigation techniques to expand the area of usable land. by diverting water to drier areas, the egyptians could cultivate more land and support a larger population. this agricultural surplus enabled the development of a more complex societal structure, leading to advancements in art, science, and governance.
the description of the land as a "gift of the river" perfectly encapsulates the dependence of ancient egyptian civilization on the nile's annual floods. the river's predictable flooding pattern allowed for the development of a calendar and a sophisticated bureaucracy that could plan and store surplus resources, further stabilizing and enriching the society. thus, the nile was not just a physical feature of the landscape but a fundamental and revered element of egyptian culture, viewed as a benevolent provider by the people it sustained.
in summary, herodotus' report from the priests of memphis concerning egypt as a land won by the efforts of its people and given by the river highlights the integral relationship between the nile and the flourishing of ancient egyptian civilization. the silt from the nile's floods transformed otherwise inhospitable terrain into one of the world's most consistent agricultural areas. this agricultural reliability allowed egypt to become one of the ancient world's most enduring civilizations.
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