The river Nile played a critical role in ancient Egyptian civilization. The river flooded annually and deposited nutrient-rich silt on its banks that created an environment that supported agriculture. The Egyptians planted crops such as wheat, beans, and cotton, as well as built canals that sustained agriculture all year round. Agriculture was the bedrock of Egyptian civilization.
The annual occurrence of the Nile floods led to the belief in gods and establishment of a social structure. The Egyptians believed that as long as the gods were happy, the Nile would continue flooding and bringing along the abundant blessings. At the apex of the social structure were gods, followed by pharaohs, scribes, merchants, artisans, farmers, and slaves. Individuals in each social stratum had a specific responsibility to perform, although education made it possible for people from lower social strata to progress to higher ones.
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