Geography and Achievements
Religion
Politics and Social Structure
Mesopotamia and Egypt
Vocabulary Words
100
In what continent is Egypt located?
Africa
100
What is a word that best describes Egyptian religion? Why?
Polytheistic; believed in many different gods that had body parts of animals.
100
Who had the most power and least power in Egyptian society?
Pharaohs had the most power and slaves had the least power.
100
Why are Mesopotamia and Egypt both called "River Civilizations"?
Because they both began near a river; the Nile in Egypt and the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia.
100
What is a tomb?
Place where dead bodies rest, like a grave.
200
What geographical feature was necessary for Egyptians to survive?
Nile River
200
What was the main reason that Egyptians built pyramids?
They were tombs for the pharaohs and they wanted to have beautiful graves for the afterlife.
200
Why was the job of a priest important in the Egyptian social structure?
Priests were important because they held religious ceremonies to please the gods.
200
How did Egyptians and Mesopotamian's believe their pharaohs were chosen?
They both believed their pharaohs were gods on earth and that they were chosen by the gods to rule.
200
What does deity mean?
Egyptian gods or goddesses.
300
What are three inventions Egyptians used to irrigate their crops?
Canals, Basin, and Shadoof
300
According to Hymn of the Nile, why are the temples having a festival? "who floods the fields... to make all the animals live... who produces barley and makes wheat grow, that the temples might be in festival."
The river is flooding; there will be water for irrigation and the soil will be fertile.
300
Even though pharaohs had all the power and were wealthy (rich), they did not have power to decide _________________________________. (hint: this was an important belief)
who was allowed to enter the afterlife after death.
300
Mesopotamia and Egypt developed and used written languages. What were these called?
Egypt's writing system was called hieroglyphics and Mesopotamia's writing system was called cuneiform.
300
What is papyrus?
a plant used to make a type of paper.
400
How did Egyptians feel about the flooding of the Nile?
They celebrated the floods because they made the soil fertile.
400
What was the main reason Egyptians embalmed and mummified dead bodies?
Egyptians believed this would help keep the soul protected and reach the afterlife.
400
Why were scribes considered important in Egyptian society?
They were able to keep records using complex hieroglyphics (writing).
400
Both Mesopotamia and Egypt developed advanced irrigation techniques. What is one they both used?
They both used canals to direct water to their crops.
400
What does the word dynasty mean?
a time period of a line of rulers from the same family.
500
Explain how one of the following achievements helped Egyptians to improve farming? Canal, Basins, Shadoof
Canals directed water towards the crops so it made watering the plants easier. Basins trapped water so they can store it and use it anytime. Shadoof made it easy to lift water from canals and carry it.
500
Why do historians know so much about Egyptians beliefs of the afterlife?
1. Book of the Dead 2. Much of Egyptian artwork and hieroglyphics (writing) inside pyramids shows images of the afterlife.
500
List all 6 groups in the Egyptian Social Structure in order form most power to least powerful.
pharaoh --> priests --> scribes --> artisans --> farmers --> slaves
500
Kings in Mesopotamia and pharaohs in Egypt had absolute power. Based on context clues and what you know about politics in these civilizations, what do you think this means?
They had 100% control to make all the decisions they wanted. Kings/pharaohs could make whatever laws they wanted.
500
What does the word embalming mean?
process of preserving a person's body after death.
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