Ancient Civilizations Flashcards
When did Ancient Egypt flourish and where?
In Northeast Africa along the Nile River, from around 3100 BCE to 332 BCE
Who Were the Key Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt and what were their contributions?
Narmer (Menes): Unified Upper and Lower Egypt, establishing the first dynasty
Khufu (Cheops): built the Great Pyramid of Giza
Hatshepsut: Female pharaoh known for her successful reign and monumental architecture
Tutankhamun: Famous for his intact tomb discovered in the Valley of the Kings by Howard Carter
What were the major historical periods of ancient Egypt and their characteristics?
Old Kingdom: Period of pyramid building and centralized rule
Middle Kingdom: Golden age of literature, art, and architecture
New Kingdom: Height of Egyptian power and expansion
Religion and Culture: What were the religious and cultural aspects of ancient Egypt?
Polytheistic religion with gods like Ra, Osiris, and Isis
Hieroglyphic writing system, papyrus scrolls, monumental architecture
What were the contributions and influence of ancient Egypt?
Contributions to mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and engineering
Influence on later civilizations, including Greek and Roman cultures.
What is the Rosetta Stone?
The Rosetta Stone enabled the decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics by Jean Francois Champollion in 1822
What does the Narmer Palette depict?
The Narmer Palette depicts the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under King Narmer
Where is the Temple of Karnak?
Located in Thebes (modern day Luxor) and dedicated to the god Amun-Ra
What is the Book of the Dead?
The Book of the Dead is a collection of funerary texts and spells intended to guide the deceased through the afterlife
Who is Thutmose III:
Thutmose III was a Pharaoh who expanded Egypt’s empire to its greatest territorial extent
Who is Amenhotep III?
Known for colossal statues, including the Colossi of Memnon
Who is Akhenaten?
Famous for religious reform and introduced monotheistic worship of Aten during the Amara Period. Married half sister Nefertiti, had Tut
Who is Ramses II
Ruled for 66 years, known for military campaigns and monumental building projects, 19th dynasty
Who is Hatshepsut?
Expanded trade and built monuments, including her temple at Deir-el-Bahari
What is the Unification of Upper. and Lower Egypt and when?
King Narmer unified Upper and Lower Egypt establishing the first dynasty (c. 3100 BCE)
What is the Amarna Period?
(1353-1336) Akhenaten promoted the worship of the sun god Aten during this time.
What was the Heliopolitan Creation Myth?
Atum-Ra emerged from the primordial waters of chaos and created himself, followed by the Ennead of Heliopolis
What is the Osiris Myth?
Osiris, god of the afterlife, was murdered by Seth and resurrected by Isis, symbolizing death and rebirth
Who was Ra and the Sun
Ra, the sun god, symbolized the life-giving power of the sun and the eternal cycle of creation
What are some mythological creatures in Egyptian mythology?
Sphinx, Anubis, Thoth, other gods and goddesses with animal heads
What are the basics of hieroglyphics?
A complex writing system used by ancient Egyptians to record their language, beliefs, and history. Combination of phonetic signs, determinatives (classifying words), and ideograms (depicting concepts)
What is Ma’at and Cosmic Order?
Ma’at was the concept of cosmic order, balance, and harmony, representing truth, justice, righteousness, and divine order in the universe. Pharaoh responsible. Ma’at. Often personified as a goddess depicted with a feather on her head, symbolizing truth and justice.
What was the Hyksos Invasion?
Foreign rulers who dominated Lower Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period
What is the Battle of Kadesh?
Clash between Ramses II and the Hittites, depicted in the famous Abu Simbel reliefs
What is the Late Period?
Egypt’s decline under foreign rule including the Persian, Greek, and Roman Periods
What is the Egyptian Creation Myth?
The ancient Egyptians had several creation myths, but one of the most prominent was the Heliopolitan creation myth, which centered around the god Atum-Ra. According to this myth, Atum emerged from the primordial waters of chaos (Nun) and created himself through self-generation. Atum then gave birth to Shu (god of air) and Tefnut (goddess of moisture), who in turn gave birth to Geb (god of the earth) and Nut (goddess of the sky). Geb and Nut became the parents of Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys, forming the Ennead of Heliopolis.
Who has four statues at Abu Simbel
Ramses II
What is a canopic jar?
These held the organs during the mummification process
Name some important artworks from Ancient Egypt
The Seated Scribe, Nefertari Playing Senet, Relief of Djoser, Ani’s Judgment, Statue of Menkaure and Queen
Where was Mesopotamia?
Mesopotamia was located in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in present day Iraq and parts of Syria and Turkey. The name means “the land between the rivers”
What were the major periods of Mesopotamian History?
The Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Neo-Babylonian periods
What were some of the major city-states of ancient Mesopotamia?
Uruk, Ur, Lagash, Eridu, Nippur, Babylon, and Assyria
What were the environmental challenges faced by ancient Mesopotamians?
Mesopotamia experienced unpredictable flooding, limited natural resources, and vulnerability to invasions due to its open geography
When did Mesopotamian civilization emerge and when did it decline?
Mesopotamian civilization emerged around 3500 BCE with the rise of Sumerian city-states and declined following the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE
What were the characteristics of Sumerian city-states?
Independent political entities centered around urban areas with ziggurats, temples, and places. Often ruled by kings and priests
What were some notable achievements of Sumerian civilization?
Significant contributions to writing (cuneiform), mathematics (sexagesimal system), astronomy, architecture (ziggurats), and literature (Epic of Gilgamesh)
Who was Gilgamesh?
Gilgamesh was a legendary king of Uruk and the protagonist of the Epic of Gilgamesh. He symbolizes the quest for immortality and the struggle of humanity against fate
What were ziggurats?
Massive stepped pyramids built as temples to the gods. Religious centers, administrative hubs, and symbols of wealth and power
What were the roles of priests and priestesses?
Held significant religious and political power, serving as intermediaries between the gods and the people. Conducted rituals, managed temple affairs, and administered justice
