Geography
Religion
Important People
The System
Society
100
What direction does the Nile river flow in? Where is Lower Egypt?
North, North
100
What type of religious belief system did the Egyptians generally practice?
Polytheism
100
Who is considered the father of medicine, engineering and was the lead architect in the construction of the step pyramid for King Djoser?
Imhotep
100
How was the wealth of the pharaoh quantified?
It was based on agricultural abundance.
100
What is the order of Egyptian social classes from lowest to highest?
Slaves, farmers, artisans, soldiers, nobleman, scribes, priests, vizier, pharaoh
200
Which important natural resource was used in the mummification process?
Natron
200
Name the three forms that Egyptian gods typically appeared in.
Animal, Human, Animal-Human
200
Who were the Hyksos and why do they matter?
The Hyksos successfully invaded ancient Egypt due to their superior weapons. After 150 years of rule, the Egyptians, lead by Theban peoples, drove the Hyksos out of the land, using the very weapons of their conquerers.
200
The government ruled according to what principle? According to the Egyptians, who was most qualified to carry this out?
Ma'at- Egyptian notion of truth, order, balance and justice. Ultimately the pharaoh was most qualified, but in reality, the vizier and priests asserted the most active control.
200
How was occupation passed along in Egyptian society?
It was hereditary and was passed from father to son.
300
What is the key difference between the Nile and the Tigris/Euphrates? How did this impact the two civilizations?
The flooding of the Nile is predictable which allows for routine agricultural practice; in contrast, the Tigris and Euphrates do not follow a predictable pattern of flooding which made agricultural production a more risky engagement.
300
What types of gods did Egyptians worship? What were the three main categories? Can you give an example of each? What different functions did they serve?
1. National, local and occupational 2. Preserve the well being of the Egyptian civilization and pharaoh, protect the livelihood of local observants, grant professional success
300
There are two names that are associated with the unification of ancient Egypt. What are they? Where does the confusion come from?
King Narmer and King Menes. They may be the same person or King Menes could be King Narmer's son. While many people believe that King Menes unified lower and upper Egypt (given the prominence of his name in ancient inscriptions), the Narmer palette complicates this explanation.
300
What is one common import and export of Egyptian trade?
imports - olive oil, ebony, ivory, animals, spices exports- papyrus, linen, grain
300
What were the two main ways that Egyptians could improve their social standing?
Through marriage and education.
400
In what ways was Egyptian architecture informed by the creation myth and Egyptian geography?
The pyramids are thought to represent the primordial mound. The processional columns of the temples are thought to represent the plant life of the primordial mound. Architectural design is thus, inspired by the lush vegetation of the Nile and the surrounding deserts.
400
During the reign of Akhenaten, religion switched from __ to __? What God is associated with this pharaoh? How would you characterize the God? What was society's response to these changes both during and after his reign?
1. Polytheism to "Monotheism" 2. Aten, the sun-disk God 3. During- disgruntled but respectful, worshiped other deities in secret 4. After - defaced images of Aten, re-established polytheism and returned the capital to Thebes
400
Describe the most noteworthy female pharaoh in Egyptian History. Why was she important? What did she do? How was she depicted? Any familial information that we should note?
Hatshepsut, usurped the thrown from her step son, ruled in her own right, is depicted with a beard, built a massive mortuary temple on the hillside of the valley of the kings, reinstated important trade routes, her image was defaced after her death...
400
How would you describe the legal system in Ancient Egypt? The court system? Civil and criminal justice?
-the main court was at Thebes -pharaoh and priests of ma'at dealt with the most severe criminal cases -local courts dealt with contracts and land grants -severe punishments included beheading and exile -women and children were viewed as wardens of the state -women held significant legal power
400
What was the role of women in Ancient Egypt? In what ways was Egyptian gender construction progressive? Conservative?
-the primary function of woman was family caretaker -women held extensive legal rights such as the right to bear witness and file lawsuits -the male was still the breadwinner, social figurehead of the family and held political and social positions of power
500
What role did the deserts play in ancient Egypt? What were the pros? the cons? Overall, were they more of a help than a hindrance? Why or why not?
Pros: natural barrier, aided burial process, location of many natural resources Cons: lack of hydration to sustain communities and agriculture
500
It is often stated that Egyptians lived for death. What might this mean? Do you agree? In your explanation/justification, please include an accurate description of the underworld, afterlife and what Egyptians needed to do in order to successfully arrive and thrive in the afterlife.
- their ultimate goal was to get to the afterlife, pious religious practice in this life was thought to directly impact your experience in the next life - the most impressive architectural structures of Ancient Egypt are morbid in character -mummification process, embalming, preservation of the physical -preservation of the Ba, Ka and Akh - underworld = Osiris, gates to pass through, weighing of the heart by Anubis - Afterlife = field of reeds/rushes, duplication of the best moments in life, -the objects, food & statues that you were buried with helped sustain your lifestyle in the afterlife
500
Name the five new kingdom pharaohs we discussed in order of their reign. What is each pharaoh most known for? If you had to choose, which pharaoh do you think had the most significant impact on the development of Ancient Egypt? Why?
Hatshepsut- opening up trade routes, being female Tuthmosis III- military conquests, 17 campaigns Akhenaten- promoting Monotheism Tutankhamun- the return of polytheism, his lavish tomb and young death Ramses II - 67 year reign, Abu-Simbel, the Bible
500
What were the three main scripts used in ancient Egypt? How would you describe them? What function did each serve? What is their relationship to one-another? Why did I put this question in this category?
Hieroglyphic - the original writing, by the end of the New Kingdom it was primarily used in more formal settings such as burial tombs, it was the most detailed and graphic Hieratic - a simpler and cursive form of hieroglyphics, replaced hieroglyphic use in administrative and religious texts, by the end of the New Kingdom, it was used primarily in religious scripts Demotic - simplest cursive form, almost unrecognizable to original hieroglyphic from, used for administrative writing and basic day-to-day writing necessities
500
What was the primary function of art in Egyptian society? How would you characterize Egyptian artwork? What mediums were most popular? Choose one famous Egyptian artifact and tell me in what ways it embodies the values and aesthetics privileged in Egyptian society?
-religious worship -accurate, consistent, preserved, colorful -architecture, relief paintings and sculpture
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