SETTLEMENT OF THE NILE VALLEY

尼羅河流域定居地

Known for being the longest river in the world, the Nile rises just south of the equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa. Its waters drain into the Mediterranean Sea. For more than 10,000 years, hunters and gatherers roamed the Nile valley in northeastern Africa.

尼羅河以世界上最長的河流文明，發(fā)源于赤道以南，向北流經(jīng)非洲東北部。它的水匯入地中海。一萬多年來，獵人和采集者在非洲東北部的尼羅河流域漫步。

As the climate became hot and dry, harsh desert conditions developed on either side of the 4,258-mile-long (6,853kilometer) river. The Nile became the only oasis for drinking water, food, and transportation. Eventually it became what the ancient Egyptians believed to be the gateway to the afterlife.

隨著氣候變得又熱又干，這條4258英里（6853千米）的河流兩側(cè)都出現(xiàn)了惡劣的沙漠。尼羅河成為唯一提供飲用水、食物和交通的河流。最終，成為古埃及人通向來世的大門。

The formerly nomadic Egyptians established villages and towns along its riverbanks. The time of this settlement is known as the Predynastic Era (5th millennium BCE–C. 3100 BCE).

以前的游牧埃及人沿著河岸建立了村莊和城鎮(zhèn)。這些定居地的時間被稱為前王朝時代（公元前5000年-公元前3100年）

In order to control the Nile, the ancient Egyptians invented a year-round irrigation system. It sent river water along short canals to nearby fields. With an ongoing watering system, farmers could plant seeds and grains.

為了控制尼羅河，古埃及人發(fā)明了全年灌溉系統(tǒng)。它將河水沿著短運河輸送到附近的田地。有了持續(xù)的灌溉系統(tǒng)，農(nóng)民可以播種種子和谷物。

They developed a measuring system that allowed them to plant such crops as wheat and barley. These ingredients were used to make such Egyptian staples as bread, soup, and beer.

他們開發(fā)了一種季節(jié)觀測系統(tǒng)，指導(dǎo)他們種植小麥和大麥的時機。這些糧食被用來制作主食，如面包、稀飯和啤酒。

The ancient Egyptians also used the land to domesticate long-horned cattle, sheep, goats, and geese. These animals provided food, and the cattle also supplied labor to plow the fields and carry heavy loads.

古埃及人還利用這塊土地馴養(yǎng)長角牛、綿羊、山羊和鵝。這些動物提供食物，牛也提供勞力犁地或搬運重物。

The ancient Egyptians were skilled artisans.They used nearby resources to build homes, make clothing, and craft home goods. They spun and wove flax for white linen clothing. This style of dress helped them keep cool in the scorching climate.

古埃及人是技藝高超的工匠。他們利用附近的資源建造房屋、制作衣服和日用品。他們紡織亞麻做白色亞麻衣服。這種款式的衣服幫助他們在酷熱的氣候中保持涼爽。

Paperworkers gathered papyrus reeds from the Nile marshes to make pale-yellow writing paper. Weavers used the reeds for baskets, mats, rope, and sandals. Metalworkers used metals and precious stones to fashion jewelry, dishes, tools, and weapons.

造紙工從尼羅河沼澤收集紙莎草，制成淡黃色紙張。織工用蘆葦做籃子、席子、繩子和涼鞋。鐵匠和金匠用金屬和寶石制作首飾、餐具、工具和武器。

In fact, many of ancient Egypt’s artisan goods were preserved over generations and discovered by archaeologists.

事實上，古埃及的許多手工藝品都是經(jīng)過許多代人保存下來，并被考古學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn)。

詞匯短語

drain 排出

Mediterranean 地中海

hunter 獵人

gatherer 采集者

roamed 漫步

harsh 惡劣

desert 荒漠

condition 環(huán)境

oasis 綠洲

gateway 門道

formerly 從前

nomadic 游牧的

established 建立

settlement 定居地

Predynastic 前王朝

millennium 千年

irrigation 灌溉

canal 運河

ongoing 持續(xù)

crops 莊稼

wheat 小麥

barley 大麥

ingredient 原料

staple 主食

domesticate 馴養(yǎng)

cattle 牛

supplied 提供

labor 勞動

plow 犁

skilled 專業(yè)的

artisan 工匠

resources 資源

craft 手工

spun 紡線

wove 織布

flax 亞麻

linen 亞麻布

scorching 酷熱的

papyrus 紙莎草

reed 蘆葦

marshes 沼澤

weaver 織工

sandal 涼鞋

metal 金屬

precious 珍貴的

fashion 塑造

jewelry 首飾

preserved 保存好的

generation 代

archaeologist 考古學(xué)家

in order 井然有序

year-round 全年

send along 發(fā)送

long-horned 長角

in the world 天下

south of 以南

be known 以…聞名

as in fact 實際上