Terms & Themes
What were the defining characteristics of the "red land?"
The barren desert in Egypt
What were the pyramids used for?
The pyramids were tombs for ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
What does it mean for a ruler to have "absolute power?"
Rulers that have "absolute power" have full control over all aspects of life: government, religion, taxes, etc. Absolute power tends to lead to corruption and violence to maintain power.
Where were the bodies of the pharaohs placed once they died?
The pharaohs were mummified and placed in tombs in the pyramids. They were also buried with items that were important to them and would help them in the afterlife.
What were the "gifts" (benefits) of the Nile?
The Nile keeps soil fertile for crops and allows animals to live. Cataracts in the river serve as a natural defense barrier. The Nile serves as a means of transportation and trade.
What were the defining characteristics of the "black land?"
The area with fertile soil for farming.
What were some items that were frequently included in the pharaoh's pyramids?
Masks, mummified animals, amulets, Ankh, stele
What does it mean to be a "divine ruler?"
A divine ruler is someone who is believed to have god-like abilities. For example, ancient Egyptian pharaohs were believed to have god-like abilities, and they would become gods/goddesses in the afterlife.
What are the 7 characteristics of civilization?
1. Job Specialization
2. Language/Writing Systems
3. Cities
4. Social Hierarchy
5. Government
6. Technology
7. Religion
What is the Rosetta Stone, and why is it so important?
The Rosetta Stone was found in the Nile River in 1799, and it was a carving of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, Egyptian demotic, and, Ancient Greek. The Rosetta Stone allowed linguists and historians (for the first time) to translate hieroglyphics. This opened a window to understanding ancient Egyptian culture.
Where did ancient Egyptians get their supplies, like timber, from?
Why is it difficult to determine how the pyramids were built?
What are some words to describe the climate of ancient Egypt?
Dry, arid, desert
Close proximity to the Nile River --> good for farming and agriculture
What does "satire" mean?
The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people or public issues
What is Ma'at? What is the role of Ma'at in Egyptian society?
Ma'at is the Egyptian goddess of truth, justice, harmony, and balance. She would weigh the heart of the deceased against an ostrich feather to see if they would be able to enter into the afterlife.
Ma'at was often seen more as a concept than a goddess. It gave Egyptian people security and made them feel safe in the world around them.
Was there social mobility (movement) among ancient Egyptians?
No, once you were born into a class (layer on the social hierarchy pyramid), you stayed there.
Herodotus suggested that slaves built the pyramids. What is one piece of evidence that he used to support this claim?
Cheops “forced all of the Egyptians to work for him.”
The term “forced” is important because it implies that people had no choice whether or not they wanted to work on the pyramids.
Forced labor points to slavery - no freedom to choose
Ancient Egyptians were...
a. Monotheistic
b. Polytheistic
b. Polytheistic
This means they believed in many gods
How does an absolute monarch come to power?
Absolute monarchs, like Egyptian pharaohs, were born into their roles of power.
What is one characteristic of civilization, and how does it apply to Ancient Egypt?
Answers may vary. Check Lesson 3 Characteristics web.
“When he rises, then the land is in jubilation, then every belly is in joy, every backbone takes on laughter, and every tooth is exposed. The bringer of food, rich in provisions, creator of all good, lord of sweet fragrance,” - Hymn to the Nile (~1500 BCE)
What is "he" (the Nile) given credit for?
Providing fertile soil for food and agriculture.
In this news story you read about (Doc. C Lesson 7), the author suggested that laborers built the pyramids, not slaves. What is the evidence the author used to support this claim?
Modest tombs for the laborers were built with items for the for afterlife. The author argued that slaves would not have tombs with items to help them survive in the afterlife.
How did ancient Egyptians bury everyone else besides pharaohs and other nobility?
According to the L6 Google Site...
"Initially mummification was so expensive that only the pharaoh and a few favorites enjoyed the privilege. Everybody else was given a simple grave burial in a mass cemetery."
This was often located in the desert in the hot, dry, arid climate.
What is the difference between a primary and secondary source?
A primary source is written or created by someone that was alive at the time of the event, or they witnessed the event themselves. Examples of primary sources include photographs, diaries, autobiographies, and interviews.
A secondary source is written or created by someone who was not around at the time of the event, usually created using various primary sources. Examples of secondary sources include textbooks, biographies, journal articles, and dictionaries.
What is another characteristic of civilization, and how does it apply to Ancient Egypt?
Answers may vary, check Lesson 3 Characteristics web.