Hank, Egypt Flashcards
Cataracts
Wild rapids that were also a protective barrier to the south.
Irrigation
Bringing water to a field from another place to water crops.
Papyrus
A reed plant with many uses like making paper, baskets or sandals.
Civilization
A complex society with a writing system, religion, organized government, social classes, cities and art.
The Great Pyramid
Largest pyramid, built for King Khufu.
Mummy
A body that has been embalmed and wrapped in linen.
Delta
The mouth of a river with fertile soil.
Shadoof
A bucket attached to a pole, to lift water out of the Nile.
Hieroglyphics
Egyptian system of writing made up of hundreds of picture symbols.
Pharaoh
King in Egypt
Pyramid
Stone structures that serve as tombs to protect the pharaoh’s body for the afterlife.
Deities
Gods and goddesses
Isis
Most important Egyptian goddess.
Represented the loyal wife and mother.
Osiris
Egyptian god, ruled over the dead with Isis.
Nile River
World’s longest river. Located in Africa.
Gave water for drinking, farming, transportation, cleaning.
Kemet
What the Egyptians called their land.
Means, “the Black Land,” due to the dark mud.
Class Divisions - definition of
Society was divided into social groups based on wealth and power.
Dynasty
A line of rulers from the same family.
Embalming
A process used to protect and preserve pharaoh’s body.
Re
Egyptian moon and sun god.
Hapi
Egyptian God who ruled the Nile.
Narmer/Menes
Who? Strengths/Weaknesses
He united upper and lower Egypt and began the first dynasty.
Good military leader
Thutmose III
Who? Strengths/Weaknesses
Expanded Egypt’s border and controlled more territory than it ever had. Egypt grew rich from trade.
Aggressive wars. Enslaved people.
Ramses II
Who? Strengths/Weaknesses
Regained land that was lost. Ambitious building program during the golden age.
Strong military
Ahmose
Who? Strengths/Weaknesses
Led an uprising that drove the Thyskos out of Egypt.
Strong military, but only focused on war.
Akhenaton
Who? Strengths/Weaknesses
Introduced a new religion. Egypt lost land during his reign.
- People resisted the changes he made.
- Lost land.
- Appointed people without much experience.
Hatshepsut
Who? Strengths/Weaknesses
Brought wealth to Egypt through trade. Built monuments.
More interested in trade than conquest.
Tutankhamen
Who? Strengths/ Weaknesses
Had powerful advisors who restored Egypt’s religion.
Relied heavily on advisors, because he was very young.
Writing Systems:
- What was the writing system?
- How did writing systems help Egypt to survive and thrive?
Characteristics of Civilization
- The writing system of Egypt was called hieroglyphics.
2. The writing system helped Egypt to keep records, communicate and pass on stories.
Organized government:
1. Why do civilizations need government to help them survive and thrive?
Characteristics of Civilization
Civilizations need government to keep order and structure.
Religion: 3 things
- polytheistic or monotheistic?
- Main idea?
- Why mummify and build tombs/pyramids?
Characteristics of government
- Polytheistic (many gods)
- The main idea of life after death drove all of Egypt’s religious rituals.
- Egyptians mummified bodies, built complex tombs and pyramids to protect pharaoh’s bodies for the after life.
Class divisions
- How did people’s lives differ between social classes?
Upper class had larger homes and dressed in finer clothes. They had servants.
Lower class lived in one-room huts and led a simpler lifestyle.
Organized government:
2. Why did the people of Egypt follow their leader unconditionally and totally?
Characteristics of civilization
Egyptians followed their leaders unconditionally because they believed that they needed a strong leader and that pharaoh was the son of Re.
Organized government:
3. Generally speaking, who was in charge of the government of Egypt and how was this leader chosen?
Pharaoh was in charge. He was chosen because he was part of a dynasty.
Class divisions
- How did the social classes impact Egyptian society?
Provided some organization with the jobs that needed to get done?
Large differences in the lives of the upper class compared to the lower class.
Organize classes from top to bottom:
Scribes, pharaoh, farmers, scribes, priests, unskilled workers, nobleman, artisans, merchants
Hint 1 at top, then 2 groups, then 3 groups, then a big group, then the biggest group.
Pharaoh Priests and Nobleman Artisans, Scribes and Merchants Farmers Unskilled Workers
Flooding
More predictable than Tigris and Euphrates. Provided rich fertile soil for crops.
4 natural barriers for Egypt
North - delta
South - cataracts
East - Sahara desert
West - desert
