Today the fertile strip along the banks of the river Nile sup- ports about 30 million people, and as early as 1,200 BC it probably already sustained a tenth of that number.

• 今天，在尼罗河两岸肥沃的土地上生活着约3000万人，而早在公元前1200年，这里的人口可能就已达到300万。