Biographies

Question 1

Who was Khufu?

Answer 1

An ancient Egyptian pharaoh who reigned from c. 2609-c. 2566 BC.

Question 2

What did Khufu envision his tomb to be?

Answer 2

A towering limestone monument to his own greatness.

Question 3

What was the purpose of the Great Pyramid of Giza according to Khufu’s beliefs?

Answer 3

To protect his soul during its journey to the afterlife and ensure he would be remembered.

Question 4

What is the Great Pyramid of Giza known for?

Answer 4

Being one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the tallest man-made structure for 3,000 years.

Question 5

What dynasty did Khufu belong to?

Answer 5

The Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt.

Question 6

At what age did Khufu become pharaoh?

Answer 6

In his twenties.

Question 7

What military expeditions did Khufu conduct?

Answer 7

Expeditions to Nubia and Libya.

Question 8

What was the religious significance of the pyramids in ancient Egypt?

Answer 8

They were believed to ease pharaohs’ entry into heaven after their deaths.

Question 9

What was unique about Khufu’s Great Pyramid?

Answer 9

It was the first and largest pyramid built at Giza.

Question 10

How many limestone blocks were used to build the Great Pyramid?

Answer 10

Approximately 2.3 million blocks.

Question 11

What was the weight of the Great Pyramid?

Answer 11

About 6 million tons.

Question 12

What was Khufu’s full name?

Answer 12

Khnum-Khufwy, meaning ‘Khnum, protect me.’

Question 13

Who was Khnum?

Answer 13

The ancient Egyptian god of the Nile River.

Question 14

What is the Great Sphinx?

Answer 14

A huge statue of a half-man, half-lion figure that stands near the Great Pyramid.

Question 15

Who is believed to have constructed the Great Sphinx?

Answer 15

Khufu’s son, the pharaoh Khafra.

Question 16

Fill in the blank: Khufu was mummified and buried in a tomb deep within the _______.

Answer 16

pyramid

Question 17

True or False: The Great Pyramid’s exterior layer of stonework casing has remained intact over the millennia.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

What materials were primarily used in the construction of the pyramids?

Answer 18

Limestone blocks, some weighing as much as fifteen tons.

Question 19

How were the limestone blocks transported to the construction site?

Answer 19

Floated down the Nile on rafts and then dragged up a massive ramp.

Question 20

Who was Thales of Miletus?

Answer 20

Thales was a scientist and philosopher from the Greek city of Miletus, known for predicting a total eclipse of the sun in 585 BC.

Question 21

What significant prediction did Thales make?

Answer 21

Thales predicted that there would be a total eclipse of the sun on May 28, 585 BC.

Question 22

How did people in the ancient world view celestial events like eclipses?

Answer 22

Most people believed that celestial events were caused by angry gods rather than being predictable through human reason.

Question 23

What was the impact of Thales’ prediction of the eclipse?

Answer 23

Thales’ prediction terrified the Miletians, vindicated his claim, and arguably set in motion the history of Western science.

Question 24

What concept did Thales create?

Answer 24

Thales created the concept of philosophy, derived from the Greek words for ‘love of wisdom’, to describe those who sought to use reason to understand the world.

Question 25

What did Thales believe about the composition of the world?

Answer 25

Thales believed that the world was made of water and that all forms of matter had started as water.

Question 26

What was Thales’ profession besides being a philosopher?

Answer 26

Thales was a trader and olive oil producer.

Question 27

Where did Thales travel to study astronomy?

Answer 27

Thales traveled to Egypt and possibly Babylon to learn astronomical concepts.

Question 28

What school did Thales found?

Answer 28

Thales founded a school of philosophy that trained important Greek thinkers, including Anaximander and Anaximenes.

Question 29

What role did Thales play in Miletian politics?

Answer 29

Thales was a military advisor to several kings and helped preserve Miletian independence after the Persians defeated Lydia.

Question 30

How did Thales die?

Answer 30

Thales died suddenly at about age sixty, reportedly while watching a gymnastics performance.

Question 31

What is the modern location of ancient Miletus?

Answer 31

The site of ancient Miletus is now the city of Milet, Turkey.

Question 32

What did Thales do in Egypt?

Answer 32

According to one story, Thales traveled to Egypt to study geometry and dazzled his hosts by calculating the height of a pyramid based on the length of its shadow.