Rivers and Life - Nile

The Nile encapsulates the story of ancient civilisation – and the story of modern conflict and modern consumerism. From the dawn of civilization, the waters of ancient Egypt have facilitated its entire economy, culture and religion. Were it not for the capricious forces of the Nile, the enduring architectural edifices of the Pyramids might never have been built. Its regular flooding rendered the narrow strip of land either side of the river extremely fertile, creating an oasis in what is otherwise a vast desert. Even today, only 5% of Egypt’s land is actually occupied and less than 4% is suitable for agriculture, making the people as dependant on the river as ever. Since the Aswan Dam was built, the Nile no longer floods naturally, but what if the river were to stop flowing altogether? The ancient Egyptians did not have to share their precious water with anyone, but now Ethiopia and Sudan, upstream from Egypt and emerging from decades of warfare and revolution, are attempting to follow in Egypt’s path by building dams that one day might rival the mighty Aswan and cut off much of Egypt’s water supply. Will the cradle of civilisation face the worst water shortage on the planet?