Geography of the Nile
Define silt and delta.
Silt- fine soil found on river bottoms.
Delta- a plain at the mouth of a river, formed when sediment is deposited by flowing water.
Define dynasty and regent.
Dynasty- a series of rulers from the same family or ethnic group.
Regent- someone who rules for a child until the child is old enough to rule.
Define pyramid and mummy.
Pyramid- a huge building with four sloping triangle-shaped sides; built as royal tombs in Egypt.
Mummy- a dead body preserved in lifelike condition.
Define hieroglyphs and papyrus.
Papyrus- an early form of paper made from a reed plant found in the marshy areas of the Nile delta; the plant used to make this paper.
Define ore and artisan.
Ore- a mineral or a combination of minerals mined for the production of metals.
Artisan- a worker who is skilled in crafting goods by hand.
Describe the Nile River and the lands that surround it.
The Nile flows north from its sources in East Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. The Nubian section of the Nile is characterized by cataracts and little farm land. The Egyptian section of the Nile is characterized by fertile farm land, including the marshy areas and deltas at the mouth of the Mediterranean.
Name and describe the three major periods in Ancient Egyptian history.
The Old Kingdom was characterized by peace and trade agreements, especially with Nubia. Most pyramids were built during this time.
The Middle Kingdom was characterized by building infrastructure, such as irrigation.
The New Kingdom was characterized by military power.
In what ways did the Egyptians use religion to understand nature?
They believed that the gods controlled nature and therefore explained the workings of nature.
One example of this is their belief about the sun god Amon-Re. They believed that he died every time the sun set and was reborn every time the sun rose. Because of this the west was considered the land of the dead.
List three technological accomplishments of the ancient Egyptians.
1. the ancient Egyptians provided the foundation for surgery and the use of herbal medicine.
2. they created their own system of writing (hieroglyphs)
3. astronomers were responsible for determining the length of the year to be 365 days.
What is a bucranium?
The skull of a bull, used to decorate Nubian burial sites.
Why did the people of Egypt consider their deserts to be a blessing?
The Egyptians considered their deserts to be a blessing because it functioned as a natural defense from invaders.
What was the role of the pharaoh in Egyptian government and society?
The pharaohs made all of the laws and had absolute power. The people saw the pharaoh as god-like.
Bonus 100 points if you can name what the god associated with pharaohs was.
What was the purpose of the pyramids in ancient Egypt?
The pyramids were the burial places for the bodies of pharaohs.
What was the importance of writing in Egyptian society?
Writing enabled the people to keep track of their economy through written records and, later, enabled them to communicate more complicated ideas.
How did the Nubians and Egyptians borrow from each other's cultures?
The Nubians adopted many Egyptian gods and traditional ceremonies. Many Nubian artifacts were found in tombs of Egyptian pharaohs.
In what ways did the Nile river affect ancient civilizations?
The river benefitted surrounding civilizations by providing drinking water and irrigation, and its floods made surrounding land fertile.
Sometimes it hurt civilizations when unexpected floods ruined villages.
Who took control of Egypt at the end of the New Kingdom?
Alexander the Great.
Why were the pharaohs concerned about the condition of their tombs?
The pharaohs wanted their bodies and possessions to be safe from robbers. They may also have felt that the appearance of the tomb reflected their wealth and power.
How did the learning achievements of the Egyptians affect later civilizations?
Future civilizations used the information Egyptians learned about medicine and astronomy. These civilizations included the Greece and the Rome.
Why was it in the interest of Nubians and Egyptians to maintain friendly relations?
Each civilization had many resources to offer the other in trade. Both civilizations were also successful on their own--a war had the potential of ruining both civilizations.