The Land Egypt owes its existence to the Nile. As it flows north towards the Mediterranean sea, the river carries with it the fertilising silts and mud that make possible the lush cultivation along its banks. Beyond tnis narrow strip, the barren desert reaches east and west.
All the striking achievements of the Ancient Egyptians were based upon the farming of their narrow zone of fertile land. Even the Pharaoh Tutankhamun took with him into his tomb some little images of himself to labour for him at his agricultural tasks in the afterlife, as Cyril Aldred shows when he introduces tonight's programme from the Exhibition at the British Museum.