Biographies Flashcards
Who was Khufu?
An ancient Egyptian pharaoh who reigned from c. 2609-c. 2566 BC.
What did Khufu envision his tomb to be?
A towering limestone monument to his own greatness.
What was the purpose of the Great Pyramid of Giza according to Khufu’s beliefs?
To protect his soul during its journey to the afterlife and ensure he would be remembered.
What is the Great Pyramid of Giza known for?
Being one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the tallest man-made structure for 3,000 years.
What dynasty did Khufu belong to?
The Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt.
At what age did Khufu become pharaoh?
In his twenties.
What military expeditions did Khufu conduct?
Expeditions to Nubia and Libya.
What was the religious significance of the pyramids in ancient Egypt?
They were believed to ease pharaohs’ entry into heaven after their deaths.
What was unique about Khufu’s Great Pyramid?
It was the first and largest pyramid built at Giza.
How many limestone blocks were used to build the Great Pyramid?
Approximately 2.3 million blocks.
What was the weight of the Great Pyramid?
About 6 million tons.
What was Khufu’s full name?
Khnum-Khufwy, meaning ‘Khnum, protect me.’
Who was Khnum?
The ancient Egyptian god of the Nile River.
What is the Great Sphinx?
A huge statue of a half-man, half-lion figure that stands near the Great Pyramid.
Who is believed to have constructed the Great Sphinx?
Khufu’s son, the pharaoh Khafra.
Fill in the blank: Khufu was mummified and buried in a tomb deep within the _______.
pyramid
True or False: The Great Pyramid’s exterior layer of stonework casing has remained intact over the millennia.
False
What materials were primarily used in the construction of the pyramids?
Limestone blocks, some weighing as much as fifteen tons.
How were the limestone blocks transported to the construction site?
Floated down the Nile on rafts and then dragged up a massive ramp.
Who was Thales of Miletus?
Thales was a scientist and philosopher from the Greek city of Miletus, known for predicting a total eclipse of the sun in 585 BC.
What significant prediction did Thales make?
Thales predicted that there would be a total eclipse of the sun on May 28, 585 BC.
How did people in the ancient world view celestial events like eclipses?
Most people believed that celestial events were caused by angry gods rather than being predictable through human reason.
What was the impact of Thales’ prediction of the eclipse?
Thales’ prediction terrified the Miletians, vindicated his claim, and arguably set in motion the history of Western science.
What concept did Thales create?
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.
What did Thales believe about the composition of the world?
Thales believed that the world was made of water and that all forms of matter had started as water.
What was Thales’ profession besides being a philosopher?
Thales was a trader and olive oil producer.
Where did Thales travel to study astronomy?
Thales traveled to Egypt and possibly Babylon to learn astronomical concepts.
What school did Thales found?
Thales founded a school of philosophy that trained important Greek thinkers, including Anaximander and Anaximenes.
What role did Thales play in Miletian politics?
Thales was a military advisor to several kings and helped preserve Miletian independence after the Persians defeated Lydia.
How did Thales die?
Thales died suddenly at about age sixty, reportedly while watching a gymnastics performance.
What is the modern location of ancient Miletus?
The site of ancient Miletus is now the city of Milet, Turkey.
What did Thales do in Egypt?
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.
