The Nile: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture

This book provides an avenue for students to explore the Nile—the world's longest river—and better understand its larger role in society in the past, present, and future. The Nile River has been the most important natural resource for Egyptians and other Africans who live along its shores for thousands of years, bringing life to an otherwise arid and bleak desert region. Without the Nile, civilizations in Egypt could not have achieved such success. The physical, cultural, religious, and political impacts of this mighty riverway are enormous. This one-volume encyclopedia explores a breadth of topics related to the Nile River, from ancient irrigation techniques to 19th-century exploration and from current environmental controversies to concerns regarding man-made Lake Nasser. Readers will be able to explore beyond the physical aspects of the world's longest river to achieve an understanding of the Nile River's larger role in society. After a preface and introduction that provides general background information on the source, tributaries, and mouth of the Nile, the encyclopedia presents thematic essays that cover topics such as the Nile's physical geography; history; environmental issues and controversies; culture, religion, and legend; and politics. More than 100 entries cover key individuals, specific locations, geology and structure, significant expeditions, gods and deities, and folklore related to the Nile. In addition, the work provides an appendix of primary document excerpts from explorers' journals and more recent legislation on damming as well as an appendix of place names, interesting sidebars, and a helpful chronology of key events.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Part I: Thematic Essays Geography of the Nile History of the Nile Religions of the Nile Politics and the Nile Culture of the Nile Legends about the Nile Environmental Issues of the Nile Controversies of the Nile Part II: Topical Entries 'Abd al-Halim Hafiz (1929–1977) Abu Simbel Abydos Ahmad Rifa'at Tahtawi (1801–1873) Ahmad 'Urabi (1841–1911) Alexandria Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi (1935–present) Ancient Egyptian Religion Aswan Aswan Dam, Low and High Atbara River Bahr al-Ghazal River Baker, Samuel (1821–1893), and Baker, Florence (1841–1916) Barring, Sir Evelyn (Lord Cromer) (1841–1917) Blue Nile River Bonaparte, Napoleon (1769–1821) Bruce, James (1730–1794) Buganda Bujagali Falls Bunyoro Burton, Sir Richard Francis (1821–1890) Cairo Cataracts of the Nile Churchill, Winston (1874–1965) Coptic Christianity Coptic Churches and Monasteries Coptic Museum Damietta Dendara Dinka Disuq Edfu Egyptian Gods Egyptology Emin Pasha (Eduard Schnitzer) (1840–1892) Ethiopia (Abyssinia) Fashoda (Kodok) Fayyum Felucca (Falukkah) Giza Gonder Gondokoro Gordon, Charles George (1833–1885) Grant, James Augustus (1827–1892) Haile Selassie I (r. 1916–1974) Hasan al-Turabi (1932–2016) History of Egypt: Ancient History of Egypt: Islamic Period History of Egypt: Ptolemaic and Roman Periods History of Southern Sudan History of Sudan: Ancient Kush and Nubia History of Sudan: Arrival of Christianity and Islam History of Sudan: Modern Period Idi Amin Dada (1928–2003) Islam on the Nile Islamic Monuments Islamic Museum Jamal 'Abd al-Nasir (Gamal Abdel Nasser) (1918–1970) Jinja, Ripon Falls, and Owen Falls Dam Jonglei Canal Juba Judaism on the Nile Kampala Kassala Khartoum and Omdurman Khedive Isma'il (1830–1895) Khedive Tawfiq (1852–1892) King Faruq (1920–1965) Kitchener, Horatio Herbert (1850–1916) Kom Ombo Lake Albert Lake Kyoga Lake Mariut Lake Nasser Lake Tana Lake Victoria Lane, Edward William (1801–1876) Luxor Mahmudiyyah Canal Malakal Mansurah Menelik II (1889–1913) Mengistu Haile Mariam (r. 1977–1991) Meroe Muhammad Ahmad, the Mahdi (c. 1844–1885) Muhammad 'Ali (1769–1849) Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat (1917–1981) Muhammad Husni Mubarak (1928–) Murchison Falls Museum of Egyptian Antiquities: The Egyptian Museum, Cairo Museveni, Yoweri (1944–present) Mutesa I (r. 1856–1884) Najib Mahfuz (1911–2006) Nile Delta Nuba Nuba Mountains Nubar Pasha (1825–1899) Nubians Nuer Pharaonic Temples Rashid Rastafaris (Rastafarians or Rastas) Religious Holidays and Celebrations Ruwenzori Mountains (Rwenzori) Saad Zaghlul (1859–1927) Sennar Sennar, the Funj State Shilluk Speke, John Hanning (1827–1864) Stanley, Henry Morton (1841–1904) Sudd, The Sufism and Sufi Brotherhoods Taha Hussein (1889–1973) Tanta Tawfiq al-Hakim (1898–1987) Tayib Salih (1929–2009) Thesiger, Wilfred (1910–2003) Tis Isat Falls Traditional Religions of Southern Sudan Umm Kulthum (c. 1898–1975) 'Uthman Diqna (c. 1840–1926) Wadi Halfa Western Christianity on the Nile White Nile River Wingate, Orde (1903–1944) Yohannes IV (r. 1872–1889) Yusuf Wahbi Bey (1897–1982) Part III: Primary Documents Document 1: Hymn to Nut, the Sky-Goddess, and Hymn to Ra, the Sun-God Document 2: The Book of the Dead Document 3: The Story of the Shipwrecked Sailor Document 4: The Story of Sinuhe Document 5: The Peasant and the Workman Document 6: What Led to the Discovery of the Source of the Nile Document 7: A Walk Across Africa Document 8: How I Found Livingstone Document 9: Exchange of Notes between Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Egyptian Government on the Use of Waters of the Nile for Irrigation Document 10: United Arab Republic and Sudan Agreement (with Annexes) for the Full Utilization of the Nile Waters Document 11: U.S. Statement on Aswan High Dam Selected Bibliography About the Author and Contributors Index

About the Author :
John A. Shoup is associate professor of anthropology at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco.

Review :
This comprehensive volume provides information to allow a deeper understanding of the past and recent political history of the Nile. . . . An excellent choice for students and teachers looking for historical, cultural, and geographical perspectives on the Nile. This book provides an excellent, general overview of the Nile region and is suitable for all beginning researchers. Includes illustrations, photos, and an extensive bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. High school and lower-level undergraduate students; general readers. Lovers of ancient Egyptian and African history will enjoy learning more about this important natural resource. This book discusses the Nile River, from its beginnings in Lake Victoria and Lake Tana in Ethiopia. . . . Recommended.