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孟斐斯：统一的埃及的第一个首都

孟斐斯市位于尼罗河上，毗邻现代开罗市，建于公元前3100年左右，是近代统一的埃及的第一个首都。

The city of Memphis, located on the Nile near the modern city of Cairo, was founded around 3100 B.C. as the first capital of a recently united Egypt.

埃及首任国王对孟斐斯的选择反映了该地区的战略重要性。

The choice of Memphis by Egypt’s first kings reflects the site’s strategic importance.

首先，也是最明显的，尼罗河三角洲的顶点是该州行政中心的政治上的适宜位置，位于上埃及和下埃及的联合土地之间，可以方便地进入该国两个地区。

First, and most obvious, the apex of the Nile River delta was a politically opportune location for the state’s administrative center, standing between the united lands of Upper and Lower Egypt and offering ready access to both parts of the country.

较老的前王朝（公元前3100年以前）的权力中心，提尼斯以及希拉孔波利斯，离广阔的三角洲太遥远了，而三角洲已经并入了统一的国家。

The older predynastic (pre-3100 B.C.) centers of power, This and Hierakonpolis, were too remote from the vast expanse of the delta, which had been incorporated into the unified state.

只有当一个城市能够轻松的从尼罗河谷地区到它的南部，同时能够到达更广阔，地形更复杂的北部地区时，才能提供埃及王朝早期(约公元前3000-2600年)的统治者所需要的必要政治控制。

Only a city within easy reach of both the Nile valley to the south and the more spread out, difficult terrain to the north could provide the necessary political control that the rulers of early dynastic Egypt (roughly 3000–2600 B.C.) required.

甚至在埃及统一之前，孟斐斯地区也可能成为了运输和通讯的重要节点。

The region of Memphis must have also served as an important node for transport and communications, even before the unification of Egypt.

该地区可能是埃及北部和南部之间大部分（如果不是全部的话）以河流为基础的贸易的通道。

The region probably acted as a conduit for much, if not all, of the river-based trade between northern and southern Egypt.

此外，前王朝时期上埃及的宫廷从近东进口的商品（如葡萄酒、珍贵的油和金属）本应经由孟斐斯地区运往南方。

Moreover, commodities (such as wine, precious oils, and metals) imported from the Near East by the royal courts of predynastic Upper Egypt would have been channeled through the Memphis region on their way south.

简而言之，孟斐斯遗址为王朝初期的统治者们提供了一个理想的场所，可以在他们的领域内控制内部贸易，这是依赖于货物流动的国家主导型经济的基本要求。

In short, therefore, the site of Memphis offered the rulers of the Early Dynastic Period an ideal location for controlling internal trade within their realm, an essential requirement for a state-directed economy that depended on the movement of goods.

对国家行政当局同样重要的是控制埃及境内通讯的能力。

Equally important for the national administration was the ability to control communications within Egypt.

尼罗河提供了最简单快捷的交通要道，国家首都在这方面的位置也很理想。

The Nile provided the easiest and quickest artery of communication, and the national capital was, again, ideally located in this respect.

最近对孟斐斯地区进行的地质调查显示，远古时期它的地形非常丰富。

Recent geological surveys of the Memphis region have revealed much about its topography in ancient times.

看起来孟斐斯的位置可能比之前认为的更有利于控制贸易，运输和通讯。

It appears that the location of Memphis may have been even more advantageous for controlling trade, transport, and communications than was previously appreciated.

调查和钻探表明，在过去的五千年中，尼罗河洪泛区的水位稳步上升。

Surveys and drill cores have shown that the level of the Nile floodplain has steadily risen over the last five millenniums.

当洪泛区较低的时候，就像在前朝代和早期朝代时期一样，各种河道（河床或水道，只有在雨季才有水）的冰水沉积扇（扇形沉积物沉积）在东岸会是更加突出的特征。

When the floodplain was much lower, as it would have been in predynastic and early dynastic times, the outwash fans (fan-shaped deposits of sediments) of various wadis (stream-beds or channels that carry water only during rainy periods) would have been much more prominent features on the east bank.

与瓦迪霍夫有关的扇形地带向尼罗河洪泛区延伸了一条重要的道路，在孟斐斯附近形成了一条狭窄的地带。

The fan associated with the Wadi Hof extended a significant way into the Nile floodplain, forming a constriction in the vicinity of Memphis.

此时的山谷可能已缩小到仅三公里，使其成为控制河流交通的理想之地。

The valley may have narrowed at this point to a mere three kilometers, making it the ideal place for controlling river traffic.

此外，孟斐斯地区似乎处于优越位置，不仅可以控制以河为基础的贸易，还可以控制沙漠贸易路线。

Furthermore, the Memphis region seems to have been favorably located for the control not only of river-based trade but also of desert trade routes.

该地区的两个冰水沉积扇为进入东部沙漠广阔的河道系统提供了通道。

The two outwash fans in the area gave access to the extensive wadi systems of the eastern desert.

在前王朝，瓦迪·迪格拉可能是孟斐斯地区和近东之间的贸易路线，这可以从马迪王朝前的殖民地发现的外来器物异常集中的情况来判断。

In predynastic times, the Wadi Digla may have served as a trade route between the Memphis region and the Near East, to judge from the unusual concentration of foreign artifacts found in the predynastic settlement of Maadi.

进入和控制埃及和近东之间的贸易路线，似乎是埃及统治者在国家形成时期的当务之急。

Access to, and control of, trade routes between Egypt and the Near East seems to have been a preoccupation of Egypt’s rulers during the period of state formation.

垄断外贸的愿望可能是埃及政治统一背后的主要因素之一。

The desire to monopolize foreign trade may have been one of the primary factors behind the political unification of Egypt.

在重要的贸易路线与尼罗河谷交界处建立国家首都的可能性不太可能是偶然的。

The foundation of the national capital at the junction of an important trade route with the Nile valley is not likely to have been accidental.

此外，瓦迪斯霍夫和迪格拉为孟斐斯地区提供了方便的沙漠牧场。

Moreover, the Wadis Hof and Digla provided the Memphis region with accessible desert pasturage.

与希拉孔波利斯和埃尔卡布等城市一样，沙漠牧场和冲积耕地（适于种植农作物的土地）在同一区域内的结合对于早期定居尤其有吸引力。毫无疑问，这种结合使孟斐斯地区从前王朝早期就开始繁荣起来。

As was the case with the cities of Hierakonpolis and Elkab, the combination within the same area of both desert pasturage and alluvial arable land (land suitable for growing crops) was a particularly attractive one for early settlement; this combination no doubt contributed to the prosperity of the Memphis region from early predynastic times.

It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that one consequence of the unification of Egypt was

According to paragraph 2, when did Egypt import goods from the Near East?

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

The word “appreciated” in the passage is closest in meaning to

According to paragraph 3, recent research into the topography of the Memphis region in ancient times suggests which of the following?

The word “vicinity” in the passage is closest in meaning to

According to paragraph 4, which of the following is NOT a reason Memphis was chosen as the capital of a united Egypt?

In paragraph 4, why does the author mention the cities of Hierakonpolis and Elkab?

Look at the four squares  that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. While considerations of political power and ease of administration were decisive in choosing the location of the new capital, the site clearly had other advantages.  Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square  to add the sentence to the passage.

Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.

Memphis: United Egypt’s First Capital The city of Memphis, located on the Nile near the modern city of Cairo, was founded around 3100 B.C. as the first capital of a recently united Egypt. The choice of Memphis by Egypt’s first kings reflects the site’s strategic importance. First, and most obvious, the apex of the Nile River delta was a politically opportune location for the state’s administrative center, standing between the united lands of Upper and Lower Egypt and offering ready access to both parts of the country. The older predynastic (pre-3100 B.C.) centers of power, This and Hierakonpolis, were too remote from the vast expanse of the delta, which had been incorporated into the unified state. Only a city within easy reach of both the Nile valley to the south and the more spread out, difficult terrain to the north could provide the necessary political control that the rulers of early dynastic Egypt (roughly 3000–2600 B.C.) required.  The region of Memphis must have also served as an important node for transport and communications, even before the unification of Egypt.  The region probably acted as a conduit for much, if not all, of the river-based trade between northern and southern Egypt.  Moreover, commodities (such as wine, precious oils, and metals) imported from the Near East by the royal courts of predynastic Upper Egypt would have been channeled through the Memphis region on their way south.  In short, therefore, the site of Memphis offered the rulers of the Early Dynastic Period an ideal location for controlling internal trade within their realm, an essential requirement for a state-directed economy that depended on the movement of goods. Equally important for the national administration was the ability to control communications within Egypt. The Nile provided the easiest and quickest artery of communication, and the national capital was, again, ideally located in this respect. Recent geological surveys of the Memphis region have revealed much about its topography in ancient times. It appears that the location of Memphis may have been even more advantageous for controlling trade, transport, and communications than was previously appreciated. Surveys and drill cores have shown that the level of the Nile floodplain has steadily risen over the last five millenniums. When the floodplain was much lower, as it would have been in predynastic and early dynastic times, the outwash fans (fan-shaped deposits of sediments) of various wadis (stream-beds or channels that carry water only during rainy periods) would have been much more prominent features on the east bank. The fan associated with the Wadi Hof extended a significant way into the Nile floodplain, forming a constriction in the vicinity of Memphis. The valley may have narrowed at this point to a mere three kilometers, making it the ideal place for controlling river traffic. Furthermore, the Memphis region seems to have been favorably located for the control not only of river-based trade but also of desert trade routes. The two outwash fans in the area gave access to the extensive wadi systems of the eastern desert. In predynastic times, the Wadi Digla may have served as a trade route between the Memphis region and the Near East, to judge from the unusual concentration of foreign artifacts found in the predynastic settlement of Maadi. Access to, and control of, trade routes between Egypt and the Near East seems to have been a preoccupation of Egypt’s rulers during the period of state formation. The desire to monopolize foreign trade may have been one of the primary factors behind the political unification of Egypt. The foundation of the national capital at the junction of an important trade route with the Nile valley is not likely to have been accidental. Moreover, the Wadis Hof and Digla provided the Memphis region with accessible desert pasturage. As was the case with the cities of Hierakonpolis and Elkab, the combination within the same area of both desert pasturage and alluvial arable land (land suitable for growing crops) was a particularly attractive one for early settlement; this combination no doubt contributed to the prosperity of the Memphis region from early predynastic times.