Royal boat for pharaohs, also known as canopy boat.
How did the Egyptians travel?
Boat:
In ancient Egypt, boats were very important, since the civilization was around the Nile. There were many different types of boats, and the first boats in ancient Egypt were made of papyrus reeds and papyrus rope. At around 3200 BC boats improved, timber wood had been imported to build new and more stable boats. Egyptians did not travel often, they were suspicious of other countries, and also they were afraid to die somewhere else and not be sent to the Afterlife correctly.
Ferry boats were also used. These were used to help the citizens cross or go down the river. They could also be used for transporting small goods at the same time as people. For the pharaohs and their family there were royal boats. These had canopies to protect the pharaoh from the sun as well as people staring at them. Farmers even had cattle boats to transport their cattle and other animals safely, for animals was one of the only ways to earn money. They were flat, and I think they were made with enough space to carry several animals at once. There were boats used to send people to the Afterlife with, there were warships that could carry 250 men at once. Cargo boats would be towed by many smaller boats.
Fast God Facts
There was also a boat called a sun boat. It was used to send the son god Rah on his daily trip to the other side of the world. On his journey he often has a crew of kings and soldiers to row and protect him. There are several different stories and myths of what happened on his journeys. One of them is about the snake Apep who tries to sink boats on their journeys. In a myth Rah kills it and frees the people and himself from it.
The sun God Ra on his daily trip to the other side of the world
Babylon
There were different ways to transport goods and people with. Most often goods were shipped in large amounts, though also on land goods were traded.
How did Babylonians travel?
A river boat on the shore, with a basket and space for goods
Boat:
In ancient Babylon and Mesopotamia, people often traded more at sea. For this reason
they had many boats, for sea and on a river.
The most common ones used for trade and transport were:
Rafts: A raft was a wooden platform used for downstream travel. Underneath they had skins of animals, probably to keep the raft floating.
Coracles: These boats were small and waterproof. Underneath, (like the raft), was animal skin, though it would be covered in bitumen*.
This is the design of an Egyptian boat, though it was probably also somewhat the design of a gulf boat from ancient Babylon
River boats: A river boat was made of reeds tied together with rope and covered in bitumen. Mainly they carried grain, logs, bricks, wool, beer, wine and reeds, probably to make more river boats. I think they carried these sorts of things because there was more space and that the boats were more stable.
Gulf Boats: This type of boat was stronger and tougher than the river boat. It would carry goods from southern Mesopotamia to the gulf (the reason it is called a gulf boat). It would often transport things such as barley, stone, wood, pearls, carnelian (and other precious stones), copper, ivory, textiles and reeds. The reason for them being stronger and tougher than the river boat I think was to carry heavier and bigger goods.
*An important material was bitumen, a natural tar-like substance that was waterproof and would usually cover animal skin.
On Land:
On land there were less possibilities for travel than on water. The choices were:
On foot: When you were traveling on foot, you couldn't carry many things, and if you did, you would have to bring small amounts. It was not the best way for traveling and trade, but it worked.
Donkey: Traveling by donkey on land was the most common way. You could transport more than on foot, and some of the goods one often would carry would be: precious stones, textiles, wine and grain.
Cart: The cart (in my opinion), was the best way to travel on land. A cart was made of local timber and held together with bronze or copper nails. They transported metal, fish, oils, textiles, bricks and grain.
Egypt
How did the Egyptians travel?
Boat:
In ancient Egypt, boats were very important, since the civilization was around the Nile. There were many different types of boats, and the first boats in ancient Egypt were made of papyrus reeds and papyrus rope. At around 3200 BC boats improved, timber wood had been imported to build new and more stable boats. Egyptians did not travel often, they were suspicious of other countries, and also they were afraid to die somewhere else and not be sent to the Afterlife correctly.
Ferry boats were also used. These were used to help the citizens cross or go down the river. They could also be used for transporting small goods at the same time as people. For the pharaohs and their family there were royal boats. These had canopies to protect the pharaoh from the sun as well as people staring at them. Farmers even had cattle boats to transport their cattle and other animals safely, for animals was one of the only ways to earn money. They were flat, and I think they were made with enough space to carry several animals at once. There were boats used to send people to the Afterlife with, there were warships that could carry 250 men at once. Cargo boats would be towed by many smaller boats.
Babylon
There were different ways to transport goods and people with. Most often goods were shipped in large amounts, though also on land goods were traded.
How did Babylonians travel?
Boat:
In ancient Babylon and Mesopotamia, people often traded more at sea. For this reason
they had many boats, for sea and on a river.
The most common ones used for trade and transport were:
*An important material was bitumen, a natural tar-like substance that was waterproof and would usually cover animal skin.
On Land:
On land there were less possibilities for travel than on water. The choices were: