The Nile and Farming
Describe the soil in the Nile River Valley.
Fertile
Who recorded important information and maintained records using hieroglyphics?
scribes
During which kingdom was ancient Egypt most powerful and prosperous?
the New Kingdom
What was the Book of the Dead?
a guide to the afterlife for the souls of the dead
What was one major Kushite accomplishment?
Kush developed Africa's first ironworking center.
What could happen to grain crops during a drought?
Their yield would decrease.
Put these groups in order from top to bottom: farmers, pharaoh, priests, scribes, merchants.
Pharaoh, priests, scribes, merchants, farmers
How did Hatshepsut increase Egypt's wealth?
She expanded trade.
What did Egyptians believe they needed to do to overcome death?
preserve their bodies for the afterlife
Why were Kushites motivated to trade?
Kush had less land for farming than Egypt.
How did Egyptian farmers produce enough food to create a surplus?
They used the Nile's fertile soil and annual floods, then worked the land carefully.
Why did a grain surplus encourage people to become artisans?
Surplus food meant not everyone had to farm, and rulers could trade or buy goods made by artisans.
Why did Egyptians consider each pharaoh powerful?
They believed pharaohs were gods on Earth, or Horus in human form.
What ancient Egyptian practice allowed people to preserve bodies?
mummification
What effect did continued trade with Egypt have on Kush?
Kushites adopted many parts of Egyptian culture.
How did astronomy and mathematics help Egyptian farmers?
They helped farmers predict the Nile's floods, measure land, and plan planting.
What did the bureaucracy do for the pharaoh? Name one function.
It collected taxes, planned irrigation, or distributed surpluses.
How did hieroglyphics and papyrus help Egypt grow?
They helped Egyptians keep records, share ideas, and communicate knowledge.
How did mummification contribute to Egyptian science?
It gave Egyptians knowledge of human anatomy and the body.
Why did Kush move its capital to Meroe?
Meroe was easier to defend and was near iron deposits and trade routes.
What were the vast desert areas of burning sands around ancient Egypt called?
the Red Land
What does commerce mean?
the buying and selling of goods and services
Why did Egypt conquer most of Kush during the Middle and New Kingdoms?
Egypt wanted Kush's gold, natural resources, trade routes, and land.
What skills did Egyptians need, along with engineering, to build pyramids?
mathematics
How did Kush's location help it become powerful?
It linked Egypt with areas of Africa south of the Sahara through trade.