{"slug": "nile", "label": "Nile", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3392", "qid": "Q3392", "description": "major river in northeastern Africa", "entries": 34, "years": 34, "span": [-2299, 2020], "span_label": ["2300 BCE", "2020 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 10}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 6}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 5}, {"title": "Technology & Infrastructure", "count": 4}, {"title": "Climate & Environment", "count": 3}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 3}, {"title": "Disasters & Accidents", "count": 3}], "also_known_as": ["Nile River", "Nile Valley", "Nile river", "River Nile"], "related": [{"slug": "egypt-in-the-middle-ages", "label": "Egypt in the Middle Ages", "shared": 7}, {"slug": "cairo", "label": "Cairo", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "syria", "label": "Syria", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "ancient-egypt", "label": "Ancient Egypt", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "al-kamil", "label": "Al-Kamil", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "egypt", "label": "Egypt", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "alexandria", "label": "Alexandria", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "cyrene-libya", "label": "Cyrene, Libya", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "byzantinesasanian-war-of-602628", "label": "Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "cyprus", "label": "Cyprus", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "ptolemy-ii-philadelphus", "label": "Ptolemy II Philadelphus", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "john-of-brienne", "label": "John of Brienne", "shared": 2}], "items": [{"year": -2299, "year_label": "2300 BCE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "c. 2300 BC: Canal Bahr Yusuf (current name) is created when the waterway from the Nile to the natural lake (now Lake Moeris) is widened and deepened to create a canal.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371895841#Events", "title": "23rd century BC", "revid": 1371895841, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": -1089, "year_label": "1090 BCE", "section": "Climate & Environment", "date": null, "text": "1090 BC—or the Year of the Hyenas, in the reign of Ramesses XI, was a year of catastrophe. There was a very significant drop in the flow of river Nile waters, caused by a spike in climate normality. This led to significant starvation of the Egyptians, loss of faith in the religion as conducted by the high priest and collapse not only of the state in Egypt but also its economy, leading to a ten-year period of chaos. This led to the emergence of tomb robbers and the end of the Valley of the Kings as a burial site. Ancient Lives: The Story of the Pharaohs' Tombmakers", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1296833540#Events_and_trends", "title": "1090s BC", "revid": 1296833540, "section": "Events and trends"}}, {"year": -871, "year_label": "872 BCE", "section": "Climate & Environment", "date": null, "text": "872 BC—An exceptionally high flood of the Nile covers the floors of the Temple of Luxor.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1252622878#Events_and_trends", "title": "870s BC", "revid": 1252622878, "section": "Events and trends"}}, {"year": -591, "year_label": "592 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "592 BC—Early history of Sudan: An Egyptian army sacks Napata, compelling the Cushite court to move to a more secure location at Meroë near the sixth cataract of the Nile.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368102206#Events_and_trends", "title": "590s BC", "revid": 1368102206, "section": "Events and trends"}}, {"year": -331, "year_label": "332 BCE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Alexander founds the city of Alexandria near the western arm of the Nile on a site between the sea and Lake Mareotis, protected by the island of Pharos, and has the city laid out by the Rhodian architect Deinocrates.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1322067290#Macedonia", "title": "332 BC", "revid": 1322067290, "section": "Events › By place › Macedonia"}}, {"year": -320, "year_label": "321 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Leaving Eumenes to hold Asia Minor against Craterus and Antigonus, Perdiccas marches against Ptolemy, but when he fails to cross the Nile he is murdered by mutinous officers. Prominent among the mutineers is Seleucus. A truce is arranged, leaving Ptolemy in power in Egypt and Seleucus in power in Babylon.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359962346#Macedonian_Empire", "title": "321 BC", "revid": 1359962346, "section": "Events › By place › Macedonian Empire"}}, {"year": -282, "year_label": "283 BCE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "The canal from the Nile River to the Red Sea, initially started but not completed by the Egyptian pharaoh Necho II and repaired by the Persian king Darius I, is again repaired and made operational by Ptolemy II.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1354173238#Egypt", "title": "283 BC", "revid": 1354173238, "section": "Events › By place › Egypt"}}, {"year": -245, "year_label": "246 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Egypt's Ptolemy II dies and is succeeded by his son, Ptolemy III. At the time of Ptolemy II's death, Egypt comprises the ancient kingdom of Egypt in the Nile Valley, Cyrene, Judea and the coast of southern Syria, Cyprus and a number of cities on the shores and islands of the Aegean Sea. The Macedonian Ptolemies maintain their authority over their territories with a small mercenary army made up of Macedonians and other Greeks.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1358219611#Egypt", "title": "246 BC", "revid": 1358219611, "section": "Events › By place › Egypt"}}, {"year": -46, "year_label": "47 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, king of Egypt (drowned in the Nile)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1209881860#Deaths", "title": "47 BC", "revid": 1209881860, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": -21, "year_label": "22 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Roman governor of Egypt, Gaius Petronius, marches up the Nile with legions XXII Deiotariana and III Cyrenaica, and destroys the Nubian capital of Napata.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369251712#Roman_Empire", "title": "22 BC", "revid": 1369251712, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 54, "year_label": "54 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Two centurions are sent to the south of Egypt to find the source of the Nile, and possible new provinces. They report that while there are many cities in the desert, the area seems too poor to be worthy of conquest.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373339620#Egypt", "title": "50s", "revid": 1373339620, "section": "Events › 54 AD › Egypt"}}, {"year": 384, "year_label": "384 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "An edict of Theodosius I closes pagan temples in the Nile Valley (Egypt).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364741473#Roman_Empire", "title": "384", "revid": 1364741473, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 525, "year_label": "525 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Cosmas Indicopleustes, Alexandrian explorer-geographer, travels up the Nile. He will venture as far to the east as Ceylon, become a monk, and write \"Topographia Christiana\" to vindicate the biblical account of the world (see 550).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340792024#Exploration_and_colonization", "title": "525", "revid": 1340792024, "section": "Events › By topic › Exploration and colonization"}}, {"year": 543, "year_label": "543 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "The fortress city of Old Dongola (modern Sudan) along the River Nile becomes the capital of the Kingdom of Makuria. Several churches are built, including the \"Old Church\" (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340799598#Africa", "title": "543", "revid": 1340799598, "section": "Events › By place › Africa"}}, {"year": 618, "year_label": "618 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Byzantine–Sassanian War: A Persian expeditionary force under Shahrbaraz invades Egypt, and occupies the province. After defeating the Byzantine garrisons in the Nile Valley, the Persians march across the Libyan Desert as far as Cyrene.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340802929#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "618", "revid": 1340802929, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 619, "year_label": "619 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Byzantine–Sasanian War: The besieged city of Alexandria is captured by the Persians. Nicetas, cousin of Emperor Heraclius, and Chalcedonian patriarch, John V, flee to Cyprus. King Khosrow II extends his rule southwards along the Nile.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340802932#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "619", "revid": 1340802932, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 905, "year_label": "905 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Summer – Caliph Al-Muktafi sends an Abbasid army (10,000 men) led by Muhammad ibn Sulayman to re-establish control over Syria and Egypt. The campaign is supported from the sea by a fleet from the frontier districts of Cilicia under Damian of Tarsus. He leads his ships up the Nile River, raids the coast, and intercepts the supplies for the Tulunids.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1350019271#Arabian_Empire", "title": "905", "revid": 1350019271, "section": "Events › By place › Arabian Empire"}}, {"year": 969, "year_label": "969 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "February 6", "text": "February 6–July 9 – Fatimid conquest of Egypt: Caliph Al-Mu'izz's army under General Jawhar invades Egypt. Jawhar occupies the lands around the Nile from the Ikhshidids after a siege at Giza and the capitulation of Fustat.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365590679#Africa", "title": "969", "revid": 1365590679, "section": "Events › By place › Africa"}}, {"year": 1010, "year_label": "1010 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": null, "text": "The Nile river in Egypt freezes over.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373015431#Africa", "title": "1010", "revid": 1373015431, "section": "Events › By place › Africa"}}, {"year": 1154, "year_label": "1154 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Normans conduct a series of raids in North Africa, including Annaba (modern Algeria) and the Nile Delta.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362164172#Africa", "title": "1154", "revid": 1362164172, "section": "Events › By place › Africa"}}, {"year": 1167, "year_label": "1167 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 18", "text": "March 18 – Battle of Al-Babein: A second Zangid army (some 12,000 men) under General Shirkuh and his nephew Saladin marches towards Egypt, but is met by the combined Crusader-Fatimid forces led by King Amalric of Jerusalem. After skirmishing down the Nile, the Crusaders are defeated near Giza and forced to retreat to Cairo.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361983030#Egypt", "title": "1167", "revid": 1361983030, "section": "Events › By place › Egypt"}}, {"year": 1168, "year_label": "1168 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "October 20", "text": "October 20 – Amalric I invades Egypt again from Ascalon, sacking Bilbeis and threatening Cairo. In November, a Crusader fleet sails up the Nile and arrives in Lake Manzala, sacking the town of Tanis.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362165077#Levant", "title": "1168", "revid": 1362165077, "section": "Events › By place › Levant"}}, {"year": 1218, "year_label": "1218 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 24", "text": "May 24 – A Crusader expeditionary force, (some 30,000 men) under King John I of Jerusalem, embarks at Acre (supported by Frisian ships), and sails for Egypt. They arrive at the harbour of Damietta, on the right bank of the Nile, on May 27. Sultan Al-Adil, surprised by the invasion, recruits an army in Syria, while his son Al-Kamil marches an Egyptian force northwards from Cairo, and encamps at Al-Adiliya, a few miles south of Damietta.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1347207200#Fifth_Crusade", "title": "1218", "revid": 1347207200, "section": "Events › By place › Fifth Crusade"}}, {"year": 1219, "year_label": "1219 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "April", "text": "April – The Crusaders surround Damietta, with the Italian forces to the north, Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller to the east – and King John I of Jerusalem with his French and Pisan troops to the south. The Frisians and German troops occupy the old camp across the Nile. A new wave of Crusader reinforcements from Cyprus arrive led by Walter III of Caesarea. Meanwhile, Al-Mu'azzam decides to dismantle the fortifications at Mount Tabor and other defensive positions, as well as Jerusalem itself, in order to deny their protection should the Crusaders prevail there. Some fanatics wish to destroy the Holy Sepulchre, but this is refused by Al-Mu'azzam.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1345005371#Fifth_Crusade", "title": "1219", "revid": 1345005371, "section": "Events › By place › Fifth Crusade"}}, {"year": 1220, "year_label": "1220 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "July", "text": "July – The Crusaders, led by the Knights Hospitaller, raid Burlus, located in the Nile Delta in Egypt. The town is pillaged, but the knights are ambushed on their return, and several Hospitallers, including Grand Master Guérin de Montaigu, are captured. Meanwhile, Sultan Al-Kamil sends an Egyptian squadron down the Rosetta branch of the Nile. It sails to Cyprus, where it finds a Crusader fleet lying off Limassol. During the attack, they sink and capture all the ships, taking many thousands of prisoners.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360552842#Fifth_Crusade", "title": "1220", "revid": 1360552842, "section": "Events › By place › Fifth Crusade"}}, {"year": 1221, "year_label": "1221 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "June", "text": "June – Sultan Al-Kamil again offers peace terms to Cardinal Pelagius with the cession of Jerusalem and all Palestine apart from Oultrejordain, together with a 30 years' truce and money compensation for the dismantling of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, a German contingent under Louis I of Bavaria arrives at Damietta, with orders from Frederick II not to launch an attack on Cairo until the emperor's arrival. Louis and Pelagius decide to advance into Egypt towards Mansoura, where Al-Kamil has built a fortress to protect Cairo. The Crusaders assemble their armies and tents are set up just up the Nile, on June 29.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1363300593#Fifth_Crusade", "title": "1221", "revid": 1363300593, "section": "Events › By place › Fifth Crusade"}}, {"year": 1249, "year_label": "1249 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "November 20", "text": "November 20 – Louis IX sets out (against the advice of his nobles) with a Crusader force from Damietta, along the southern road to Mansourah. A garrison is left to guard the city – where Queen Margaret of Provence and Patriarch Robert of Nantes remain. The Crusaders make slow progress along the Nile, carrying a number of supplies and equipment. After 32 days, Louis orders to make camp opposite the Ayyubid camp near Mansourah, protected by a branch of the river and fortifications. Both camps use their catapults to bombard each other.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362150898#Seventh_Crusade", "title": "1249", "revid": 1362150898, "section": "Events › By place › Seventh Crusade"}}, {"year": 1276, "year_label": "1276 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of Dongola: Mamluk forces led by Sultan Baibars gain a decisive victory against the Kingdom of Makuria. They capture the Makurian capital of Dongola and force King David of Makuria to flee upstream on the Nile. He seeks refuge in the Kingdom of Al-Abwab, but is handed over to Baibars, who has him executed. Later, Baibars conquers Al-Maris (Lower Nubia), previously a part of Makuria, and annexes it into Egypt.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1344445633#Africa", "title": "1276", "revid": 1344445633, "section": "Events › By place › Africa"}}, {"year": 1858, "year_label": "1858 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "August 3", "text": "3 August – Explorer John Hanning Speke discovers Lake Victoria, source of the River Nile.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1352110821#Events", "title": "1858 in the United Kingdom", "revid": 1352110821, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1860, "year_label": "1860 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "October", "text": "October – John Hanning Speke and James Augustus Grant leave Zanzibar, to search for the source of the Nile River.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371066131#October", "title": "1860", "revid": 1371066131, "section": "Events › October"}}, {"year": 1889, "year_label": "1889 CE", "section": "Climate & Environment", "date": null, "text": "A huge locust swarm crosses the Red Sea and destroys crops in the Nile Valley.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367594292#Undated", "title": "1889", "revid": 1367594292, "section": "Events › Undated"}}, {"year": 1902, "year_label": "1902 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "December 10", "text": "December 10 – The first Aswan Dam on the Nile is completed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373318639#December", "title": "1902", "revid": 1373318639, "section": "Events › December"}}, {"year": 1965, "year_label": "1965 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "November 1", "text": "November 1 – A trolleybus plunges into the Nile at Cairo, Egypt, killing 74 passengers.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368843670#November–December", "title": "1965", "revid": 1368843670, "section": "Events › November–December"}}, {"year": 2020, "year_label": "2020 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "February 29", "text": "29 February – Egypt says it will use \"all means\" to defend its interests in a dispute with Ethiopia and Sudan over a dam on the Nile River.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370818951#February", "title": "2020 in East Africa", "revid": 1370818951, "section": "Monthly events › February"}}]}