The Middle Kingdom
In ancient Egypt, this official governed a nome, or province, on behalf of the pharaoh.
What is a nomarch?
Founded near the city of Kish, this Amorite capital grew into one of the most influential cities of ancient Mesopotamia.
What is Babylon?
These Semitic rulers settled in the Nile Delta and challenged native Egyptian dynasties during the Second Intermediate Period.
Who were the Hyksos?
This Minoan palace complex on Crete is traditionally associated with the myth of the Labyrinth.
What is Knossos?
This sun-disk deity became central to Egyptian religious reform during the New Kingdom Period.
What is Aten?
This Amorite king expanded Babylon into an empire and sought to preserve order through his famous written legal code.
Who is Hammurabi?
Founded by Amenemhat I, this city replaced Thebes as Egypt’s capital during the early 12th Dynasty.
What is Itj-taway?
Often considered the most complete surviving legal code from the ancient world, this set of laws emphasized royal justice and social hierarchy.
What is the Code of Hammurabi?
Founder of the Eighteenth Dynasty, this pharaoh expelled the Hyksos and ushered in the New Kingdom.
Who is Ahmose I?
This fortified citadel gave its name to the dominant culture of mainland Greece during the Late Bronze Age.
What is Mycenae?
Born Tutankhaten, this young pharaoh restored traditional Egyptian religion and is famous for his intact tomb discovered by archaeologists in 1922.
Who is Tutankhamun?
In Greek mythology, this half-man, half-bull creature was imprisoned in the Labyrinth and slain by Theseus.
What is the Minotaur?
To secure Egypt’s southern frontier, Middle Kingdom rulers of the 12th Dynasty launched military campaigns against this people living south of Upper Egypt.
Who were the Nubians?
Located in northern Mesopotamia, this city became the capital of the Old Assyrian Empire under Amorite rulers.
What is Assur?
This burial ground became the royal necropolis for many Eighteenth Dynasty pharaohs.
What is the Valley of the Kings?
This Athenian hero defeated the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne, according to Greek myth.
Who is Theseus?
Issued around 1500 BC, this Hittite document attempted to limit royal violence by regulating succession.
What is the Edict of Telepinus?
Ruling during Egypt’s height of wealth and influence, this pharaoh pursued diplomacy through marriage alliances.
Who is Amenhotep III?
This Theban pharaoh reunified Egypt after the First Intermediate Period and styled himself a “second Narmer.”
Who is Mentuhotep II?
This Amorite warrior-king founded the Old Assyrian Empire through conquest and diplomacy.
Who is Shamshi-Adad?
One of Egypt’s few female pharaohs, she ruled during a period of prosperity and commissioned monumental architecture.
Who is Hatshepsut?
Adapted from Minoan writing, this script was used to record early Greek and deciphered in the 20th century.
What is Linear B?
This powerful Hurrian kingdom rivaled both the Hittites and Egyptians before its eventual collapse.
What is Mitanni?
This Elamite ruler of Larsa was eventually defeated by Hammurabi during Babylon’s rise to power.
Who is Rim-Sin?
Often considered the strongest ruler of the Middle Kingdom, this 12th Dynasty pharaoh built a chain of fortresses along Egypt’s southern border.
Who is Senusret III?
This king of Mari fled to Aleppo during an Assyrian invasion, later returning to rule with Babylonian support.
Who is Zimri-Lin?
Often called the “Napoleon of Ancient Egypt,” this pharaoh expanded Egypt to its greatest territorial extent.
Who is Thutmose III?
This export enabled Minoan culture to establish a vast trade network in the Eastern Mediterranean, enabling the kings of Crete to import luxury goods from Egypt and Mesopotamia.
What is the olive?
This early Hittite king expanded Hittite power in Anatolia and northern Syria.
Who is Hattusilis I?
This Assyrian king defeated Mitanni and Kassite-ruled Babylon, founding the Middle Assyrian Empire.
Who is Assur-uballit I?