Ancient Egypt had a unique set of conditions for building pyramids. The country was a long, narrow, fertile strip of land in northeastern Africa.
Water came from the mighty Nile River, and natural barriers offered protection from invaders. There were deserts to the east and west. There were dangerous rapids on the Nile to the south, and delta marshes to the north. This circle of isolation allowed the Egyptians to work in peace and security.
Literally tons and tons of raw materials went into the pyramids. Ancient Egypt had plenty of limestone, sandstone, and granite. But how did all those huge, heavy rocks get to the building sites? Egypt’s greatest resource —the mighty Nile River—provided the transportation.
