lesson 1
When did ancient people began to settle as farmers in the dry desert lands of northern Africa.
About 6,500 years ago
Which group helped run the government and temples?
Nobles and Priests
What caused the end of the Middle Kingdom?
the Hyksos invasion and Ahmose’s rise to power
How does the Rosetta Stone increase our understanding of the value the ancient Egyptians placed on their leaders?
The instructions to honor Ptolemy with monthly and annual sacrifices and festivals show that the ancient Egyptians saw their leaders as gods.
Between which two cataracts did the city of Napata lie?
Third and fourth
What did the Nile river provide to the land.
Water and fertile soil to the parched land.
How was society structured in the Old Kingdom?
pharaoh at the top; nobles and priests; scribes and craftspeople; farmers, servants, and slaves below
Where was timber available
Byblos
What was the purpose of The Book of the Dead?
To ensure an ancient Egyptian of an afterlife
How did geography help civilization grow in Nubia?
The flooding Nile provided fertile agricultural land; the river’s cataracts served as barriers to invaders.
Why was river travel more difficult near Elephantine than it was near Thebes?
Elephantine was near a cataract.
Why did the people of the two river civilizations thought it was necessary to obey every command of their leader?
Leaders were believed to be chosen by the gods.
What did the poet request from Ramses?
The poet requested protection, guidance, and leadership during a time of conflict.
How is our writing system similar to hieroglyphics?
Letters stand for sounds, just as symbols in hieroglyphics stand for sounds.
How did internal problems in Egypt benefit Kush?
They made Egypt weak and vulnerable to attack from Kush.
During which month would Egyptians be planting seed?
November
Why was the heart left in place during the mummification process?
It was considered to be the most important organ and the home of the soul.
Name at least 5 jobs that existed in ancient Egypt?
priests, government officials, scribes, artisans, artists, architects, merchants, traders, soldiers, farmers, peasants
What might archaeologists learn about ancient Egypt from these artifacts?
About Egyptians' clothing, jewelry, and furniture styles; artistic techniques; religious ceremonies
why were the furnaces for melting iron ore partially underground?
So that the fire would not be too high or too intense for the ironworkers to shape their iron products
During which month would Egyptians be planting seed?
Without the “gift” of flooding that provided rich soil for crops, civilization probably would not have developed in Egypt.
How did religion influence government and society in the Old Kingdom?
Government—pharaoh had absolute power because he was thought to be a god; religious leaders made the decisions of government. Society—worshipping the gods affected every part of life; people lived good lives in order to enter the afterlife; achievements like the pyramid came about because of religious ideas; religion played a role in the class system; burial practices gained great importance.
How was life different for the different classes of people during Middle and New Kingdoms?
Pharaohs, the nobles, and the wealthy held all the power and made all the decisions. The skilled middle class had to learn their trade and worked for the upper classes. They could become wealthy themselves. The lower classes farmed and worked as laborers. They had to work hard with little hope of rising in society. Slaves did have some rights and could earn their freedom.
What were some features of Egyptian temples?
Sphinxes, obelisks, statues, a sanctuary, a large hallway filled with stone columns, paintings, hieroglyphic carvings, columns covered by paintings and hieroglyphics, high windows
Why did Kush and Aksum develop where they did, and how did relations with Egypt impact their civilizations?
Kush and Aksum developed where they did partly because of the fertile soil, the floodwaters of the Nile, and the variety of minerals at the location. Farming and, later, crafts such as ironworking helped the people succeed. Also the location of Kush proved ideal for trade. Relations with neighboring Egypt greatly influenced the people of Kush as they adopted many Egyptian ideas and customs. The two places were trade partners but also sometimes enemies, with each taking a turn as conqueror.