OWHG Ch 7 - Revision Flashcards
What is unique about the Sahara?
It is the largest desert in the world.
Why is the Sinai Peninsula sometimes referred to as a land bridge?
You can cross from Israel (Canaan) to Egypt by crossing the Sinai Peninsula.
What is the longest river in the world?
The Nile
Why is Egypt called the “Gift of the Nile”?
Without the Nile, Egypt would be a desert. The overflow deposits rich soil along the river.
What is a delta?
the formation at the mouth of a river caused by build up of silt
What is a cataract?
a bed of rocks in a river bed that gives rise to a waterfall
Upon what did the Egyptians base their seasons?
the annual flooding of the Nile.
Who was considered to be the king of Upper and Lower Egypt?
King Menes
What title did Egyptian kings give themselves?
Pharaoh
Who was next in importance to the king?
the Vizier
What were the huge stone structures built as tombs for burying pharaohs called?
pyramids
What is the most famous and largest of these tombs still standing today?
the Great Pyramid
What does the Great Sphinx look like?
It has the head of a man and the body, legs, and paws of a lion. Its head and body are carved of solid rock, and its legs and paws are built of stone blocks.
What interesting pharaoh was buried in the Valley of the Kings?
King Tutankhamen
What is a famine?
a time of serious shortage of food
What is a pharaoh?
the ruler of Egypt
What is a vizier?
the next in importance to the Egyptian king
What did most Egyptians do for work?
They were farmers.
Why did the Egyptians choose mostly white as a colour to wear?
They probably chose this because white reflects the sun and is the most comfortable colour to wear in a hot, dry climate.
What pet was considered sacred by the Egyptians?
the cat
What is a shadoof?
an irrigation device: a long pole with a bucket tied on the end
What is a mummy?
a preserved body
What is a pyramid?
tombs built for the pharaohs
What is an obelisk?
a tall pointed pillar to honour the sun god
What was a scribe?
the secretary to the ruler
What is a palette?
a box to hold paints
What is papyrus?
paper-like material
What was a scroll?
a long roll of papyrus or paper
What are hieroglyphics?
the Egyptian system of picture writing
Because the fertile land in Egypt ends so abruptly, what did the ancient Egyptians call their land?
Red Land, Black Land
What do we call the area near Thebes that the pharaohs used as a cemetary?
The Valley of the Kings
What do we call the area near Thebes that the pharaohs used as a cemetary?
The Valley of the Kings
What was the key to understanding the meaning of hieroglyphics?
the Rosetta Stone
List the three Egyptian seasons and the type of work done in each season.
Flood season - work on buildings
Planting season - irrigation and planting crops
Harvest season - harvesting crops
Who was the first pharaoh?
Akhenaton
Who built the Great Pyramid as his tomb?
Khufu
Who is the Egyptian vizier mentioned in the Bible?
Joseph
Who was ancient Egypt’s only woman pharaoh?
Hatshepsut
Which Egyptian pharaoh’s tomb is more famous than he is?
Tutankhamen
