Chapter 2 Section 1: The Nile Valley

Question 0

What is the name of the wild rapids formed by the narrow cliffs and boulders of the Nile river?

Answer 0

Cataracts

Question 1

Where did Egyptian civilization begin?

Answer 1

The Nile River Valley

Question 2

What is the name of the area where the Nile river fans out and creates an area of fertile soil?

Answer 2

The Nile River Delta

Question 3

What physical features border the Nile river on the east and west?

Answer 3

The Eastern and Western Desert

Question 4

How might the deserts of Egypt influence how ancient Egyptians viewed the Nile?

Answer 4

To the ancient Egyptians, the Nile was a precious gift.

Question 5

What is the name for the vast desert west of the Nile River Valley?

Answer 5

The Sahara, the largest desert in the world.

Question 6

What useful purpose that the deserts serve for the Egyptians?

Answer 6

They kept outside armies away from Egypt’s territory.

Question 7

Besides the deserts, what other geographic features protected that Egyptians?

Answer 7

To the far south the cataracts blocked enemy boats from reaching Egypt.

To the north, the Delta marshes offered no harbor for invaders.

Question 8

What is papyrus?

Answer 8

A reed plan that grew along the Nile.

Question 9

What did the Egyptians use papyrus for?

Answer 9

To make baskets, sandals, and river rafts. Later, they used it to make paper.

Question 10

What was the name of the Egyptian writing system?

Answer 10

Hieroglyphics

Question 11

What is hieroglyphics?

Answer 11

The Egyptian writing system that combined both picture symbols and sound symbols.

Question 12

Who could read and write in Egypt?

Answer 12

Only specially trained men called scribes who studied at temples.

Question 13

How did living on the banks of the Nile help farmers?

Answer 13

The Nile provided water and regular yearly flooding left behind a layer of dark fertile soil or mud.

Question 14

Why did the Egyptians call their land Kemet, which means, “The Black Land?”

Answer 14

Because annual flooding left behind dark fertile silt or mud.

Question 15

What did Egyptian farm surpluses free the people to do?

Answer 15

They could become artisans and weave cloth, make pottery, carve statues, or shape copper into weapons or tools.

Question 16

Why did Egypt need a government?

Answer 16

To build and maintain irrigation systems and store and pass out surplus grain, and settle land ownership disputes.

Question 17

Who was Narmer and what did he do?

Answer 17

He was the king of upper Egypt. He led his armies north and took control of lower Egypt uniting the two kingdoms in 3100 BC.

Question 18

What is a dynasty?

Answer 18

Dynasty is a line of rulers where power is transferred from father to son to grandson.

Question 19

How were the kingdoms of Upper Egypt and lower Egypt combined?

Answer 19

About 3100 BC, Narmer, the king of upper Egypt, led his armies north and took control of lower Egypt. The two kingdoms became unified.

Question 20

How was the Egyptian society divided?

Answer 20

Egypt’s society was divided into upper-class priest and nobles, middle-class artisans and merchants, and lower-class workers and farmers.

Question 21

How was Egyptian society organized?

Answer 21

The top was the Pharaoh and his family. Below the pharaoh were priests and Nobles. Then traders artisans shopkeepers and scribes. Then farmers and herders, and lastly unskilled workers.

Question 22

This papyrus and how did the Egyptians use it?

Answer 22

Papyrus is a reed plant originally used to make sandals, baskets, and river rafts. Later it was used to make paper.

Question 23

What rights did women have an ancient Egypt?

Answer 23

Women could own and pass on property. They could buy and sell goods, make wills, and obtain divorces. Upper class women were in charge of temples and could perform religious ceremonies.

Question 24

What three things lead to the growth of government in ancient Egypt?

Answer 24

Irrigation systems had to be built and maintained. Surplus grain had to be stored and passed out in times of need. Disputes over landownership had to be settled.

Question 25

How did the geography of the Nile River Valley lead to the growth of a civilization there?

Answer 25

The river valley provided rich farmland and a stable water supply, while the deserts, delta, and cataracts kept enemies out.

Question 26

What was the significance of Narmer’s double crown?

Answer 26

To symbolize the kingdom’s unity, Narmer wore a double crown. The helmet like white crown represented upper Egypt and the red crown represented lower Egypt.