Social Studies World
Alphabet
Coined money
The lydians became the first people to use coined money put out by their government. People all around the Mediterranean began to trade with one another , they needed a kind of money, It’s value had to be agreed on , and it had to be light enough to be carried on ships without sinking them. The first Lydian coins were the size of beans. The coined money was made up of a naturally a naturally occurring mixture of gold and silver called electrum. All the coins were the same weight , so they would have the same value. Long before coined money traders had relied on barter, the exchange of one good or service for another. the use of money allowed traders to set prices for various goods and services. Societies could then develop money economy.
Rivers
The Nile River was thought to be the “ giver of life “ for the ancient Egyptians. It affected all Egyptian activities, including farming, religious beliefs, and ways of governing. The Nile also helped bring together the peoples who lived along its banks. For the early Egyptians the Nile served as a river highway. To use this highway , the Egyptians became expert ship builders. The first Egyptian ships were made of bundles and reeds. By the time Egypt was united, some Egyptian boats were made of wooden planks and were long as 60 feet ( 18 m). All year round, reed or wooden sailboats traveled on the Nile. Boats going downriver could use the River’s fast currents to travel North. Boats sailing upriver relied on Egypt’s steady north wind to go against the current.