- Geography: Egypt is largely desert, with limited areas of fertile land along the Nile River. The Nile Valley and Delta regions, where most of the population lived, were not conducive to growing trees on a large scale.
- Climate: Egypt's hot and dry climate made it challenging for trees to grow and flourish. The lack of rainfall and high temperatures made it difficult to sustain forests.
- Land Use: The land in Egypt was primarily used for agriculture to produce food for the growing population. This meant that there was limited space available for forests.
As a result of these factors, Egypt had to rely on trade with other regions, such as Syria, to obtain wood for various purposes, including construction, shipbuilding, and furniture making. Syria, with its more favorable climate and abundant forests, was able to provide Egypt with the wood it needed.