Chapter 4 Study Guide: Egypt
The Nile River flows through UPPER and LOWER Egypt. Besides providing a stable food diet, Egypt’s location also provided natural BARRIERS to protect against INVASIONS: The MEDITERRANEAN Sea to the north, the Nile cataracts to the SOUTH, the RED Sea to the east, and the Western DESERT to the west. The first pharaoh, MENES, and rulers after him wore a double CROWN to symbolize their rule over both UPPER and LOWER Egypt.
The people of Egypt would blame the PHARAOH, who was both a ruler and a GOD, if crops did not grow or if disease struck. The most famous pharaoh of the Old Kingdom was KHUFU, known for the many monuments built in his honor. PYRAMIDS are STONE tombs with four triangle-shaped sides that meet in a point at the top.
Belief in the AFTERLIFE was central to Egyptian religion. Egyptians preserved bodies as MUMMIES. Tombs were filled with art, jewelry, and other treasures because the Egyptians believed the KA would need these items to enjoy the AFTERLIFE. In 1922, Howard Carter discovered KING TUTANKHAMEN’s tomb. This tomb taught us much about burial practices and beliefs.
MENTUHOTEP II reunited Egypt. But it was Queen HATSHEPSUT who increased TRADE during the NEW Kingdom as well as the amount of LAND that Egypt controlled.
AHMOSE of Thebes drove the HYKSOS out of Egypt and began the NEW Kingdom. RAMSES the Great is best remembered as a great warrior and builder. Egypt’s CONQUEST of distant lands was the largest contributor to the growth of TRADE in the New Kingdom. It can be assumed that people who participated in trade networks benefitted from them.
A DYNASTY is a series of rulers from the same FAMILY. Most ancient Egyptians were FARMERS, the job that employed the most people.
HISTORICAL records, MEDICAL manuals, and LITERARY works are all examples of ancient documents that have been preserved for centuries.
Define each word:
PAPYRUS: long-lasting, paper-like substance made from reeds
CONTRACTS: binding agreements
SPHINX: huge ancient Egyptian statue of imaginary creatures with the heads of people and bodies of lions
IMPORTS: products shipped into a country
MENES: an Egyptian leader who united both upper and lower Egypt into one kingdom
HIEROGLYPHICS: Egyptian writing system, one of the world’s first, which used symbols
MUMMIES: the Egyptian method of preserving dead bodies by wrapping them in cloth
PYRAMIDS: huge stone TOMBS with four triangle-shaped walls that meet at a top point
EXPORTS: products shipped out of a country
HATSHEPSUT: New Kingdom ruler renowned for expanding Egyptian trade
NOBLES: people from rich and powerful families
CATARACTS: strong rapids
OBELISK: a tall, four-sided pillar that is pointed at the top
PHARAOH: the title used by the rulers of Egypt