The foundations of all science and art were laid on the banks of the River Nile before Christ, according to the statement. The Nile River was vital for the development of ancient Egyptian civilization. It provided fertile land for farming and transportation routes, allowing Egypt to develop independent of outside influences. Key developments that emerged in ancient Egypt included mathematics, astronomy, architecture, art, medicine, and a writing system of hieroglyphs. Religion and the monarchy were tightly intertwined and helped organize society through construction projects, laws, taxation, and trade.