dynasty
A family of rulers whose right to rule is passed on within the family
hieroglyphics
'sacred writings' - the Egyptian system of writing using both pictures and more abstract forms
Akhenaton
A pharaoh who introduced the worship of one god (called 'Aton')
First foreign rulers
Libyans
pharoah
the title of the Egyptian monarch (meaning 'great house')
hieratic script
a simplified version of hieroglyphics used for business and daily life
Tutankhamen
A boy-pharaoh who restored the worship of the old gods after Akhenaton
Second foreign rulers
Nubians
bureaucracy
an administrative organisation with officials and regular procedures
The king who united Upper and Lower Egypt
Ramses II
A great pharaoh who regained control of Palestine
Third foreign rulers
Persians
vizier
the most important official in Egypt - 'steward of all the land' (e.g. Joseph son of Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham)
Hyksos
A people riding horse-drawn chariots who invaded Egypt in 1652 BC and ruled for 100 years.
Cleopatra VII
The famous pharaoh of the first century BC
Fourth foreign rulers
Greeks (after Alexander the Great)
mummification
a process of slowly drying a dead body to prevent it from rotting
Hatshepsut
The first woman to become pharaoh (in the New Kingdom period)
Giza
The location of the Great Pyramid where Upper and Lower Egypt meet
Fifth foreign rulers
Romans