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Definition
| A Delta is a fan shaped area of fertile land where the Nile reaches the sea. Most Egyptians live in the Delta area protected by desert, sea and cataracts (waterfalls) The Nile overflowed its banks every July and left rich soil for crops. Farmers planted crops in wet soil and watered them during the dry season with a shadoof (machine) to lift water out of dug out basins. Egyptians grew flax, wheat, barley and grapes |
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Definition
| The Nile is a river that flows north 4,145 miles from central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea, with the last 600 miles in Egypt. |
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| The Old Kingdom is when Egypt was divided into two kingdoms. Upper Egypt: southern part of the Nile River valley and Lower Egypt:north Delta area. It was ruled by Menes/Narmer (had two names) who was king. |
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Term
| What happened in 3100 BC? |
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Definition
| Menes/Narmer conquered Lower Egypt and united the two kingdoms. He had many titles: “Lord of Two lands,” “Wearer of Both Crowns,” and “Lord of Upper and Lower Egypt”. Memphis became capital. |
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| What was life like in the Old Kingdom? |
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Definition
In 2600 BC, the Old Kingdom started in Egypt and lasted 500 years. Egyptian cities became centers of religion and government. Kings, priests, government officials and artisans lived there. Most Egyptians lived in huge estates along banks of the Nile owned by rich Egyptians where their households included their family, servants and artisans. Most Egyptians were farmers who lived on villages on the estates.
Farmers lived in one room houses of reeds and mud and later on in houses made of sun-baked mud-brick. Farmers worked in fields, took care of cattle, built monuments, dug ditches and repaired roads. |
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Term
| What did Egyptians in the Old Kingdom believe about the Pharaohs? |
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Definition
| They believed that all strength and unity came from having a strong ruler called a Pharaoh. Egyptians believed that what happened to Egypt depended on the pharaoh’s actions. |
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| They were originally called kings and then called Pharaohs (means great house). The great house was the center of Egyptian life and the Pharaoh ruled on earth as gods did in heaven. He owned all the land in Egypt. He gave gifts of land to rich Egyptians and priests. he oversaw building of dams, canals and brick granaries. He chose government officials. He made sure taxes were paid and building permits given out and his word was law. |
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Term
| How were the pyramids made? |
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Definition
| Farmers used copper tools to cut granite and limestone blocks in Upper Egypt. Blocks of rocks were pulled to the Nile, put on barges, floated down river, and pulled to the construction site. Workers dragged the blocks up ramps to build the pyramids. |
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| How were the Pharaohs treated? What special rites did they perform? |
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Definition
| Pharaoh did certain rituals as the chief priest. To open the land to water he made first break in irrigation dikes each year. To make the soil rich to grow good crops he drove a sacred bull around the capital city. To bring a good harvest he made the first cut of ripe grain. Pharaohs were treated with respect and honored with people playing flutes and cymbals. People bowed or touched their heads to the ground when they came in public. |
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Term
| What did the Egyptians believe about the souls of the dead? |
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Definition
| They believed souls of dead went to underworld and were weighed – if they knew the right magic spells the weight balanced and they had a life after death. The Book of the Dead contained magic spells needed to get to life after death. |
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Term
| Why were bodies embalmed? |
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Definition
| Embalming preserved the bodies of the dead. Egyptians believed the soul could not live without the body so they preserved the body of Pharaoh so he could continue to take care of Egypt after death. Embalming practices changed to include other people in addition to the pharaoh. The body was placed in a wooden box and covered with natron to dry up and shrink the body. The dried, shrunken body was wrapped with long strips of linen. The wrapped body was known as a mummy. Mummy’s of rich people were kept in a special case or coffin in a tomb. Mummy’s of poor people were buried in a cave or sand. |
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Term
| What were the religios beliefs of Egyptians in the old Kingdom? |
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Definition
| They believed in many gods. They were dependent on the river and sun for water, fertile soil and sun so Hapi, the River god and Re, the sun god were the two most important gods. Osiris, the god of harvest and eternal life and his wife, Isis ruled over the dead. |
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| What was the purpose of the pyramids? |
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Definition
| Egyptians showed respect for Pharaohs by building great tombs called pyramids. They were built on the west bank of Nile since the sun sank in the west. They were called “Houses of Eternity” and were designed to protect pharaohs from floods, animals and robbers. Clothing, weapons, furniture and jewelry were placed in pyramids to make them happy after death. |
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Term
| How was life different in the Middle Kingdom then in the Old Kingdom? |
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Definition
| In 2300 BC, government officials took control of Egypt. Basically there were 200 years of confusion until the Middle Kingdom began in 2100 BC which brought unity and peace. In the Middle Kingdon the Pharaohs had less power, were buried in tombs cut in cliffs and the Egyptians traded with countries beyond the Nile Valley. The Midle Kingdom ended in 1786 BC when the Hyksos invaded them. |
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Definition
| They came from western Asia in horse drawn chariots and used bronze and iron weapons. They defeated the Egyptians who fought on foot and with copper and stone weapons. they ruled for about 150 years until they were driven out by Egyptian prince Ahmose using Hyksos weapons. |
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| Explain the contributions made by Egyptians? |
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Definition
Contributions of Egyptians: 1)Papyrus, a paper made from reed. 2) Ink 3) Baskets and sandals from papyrus 4) Mathematical system based on ten 5) Geometry for surveying land 6) Made a calendar that had three seasons of 120 days each and five special feast days for the gods 7) Field of Medicine - were
first specialists in medicine as dentists, eye doctors, surgeons and animal doctors and first to use splints, bandages and compresses. |
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Definition
| In 1730 BC, Amenhotep IV became pharaoh. He did not like priests and he did not think priests were good for Egypt and wanted power returned to pharaohs. He closed temples and seet up new religion with only one god worshipped, Aton. he changed his name to Akhenaton, Spirit of Aton.No one accepted the new religion except his family and advisors. |
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Term
| Who were scribes and what did they do? |
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Definition
| The right to be a scribe passed from father to son. Scribes wrote religious works of spells, charms and prayers. they kept records of pharaohs laws, lists of grains and animals, and paid taxes. they copied fairy tales and adventure stories. they wrote medical prescriptions. |
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Term
| What was Egyptian writing like? |
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Definition
| There were several kinds of Egyptian writing. First, Hieroglyphics were pictures standing for words or sounds. They were carved and painted on monuments. The Egyptians needed an easier form of writing for records so they developed two other kinds of writing where they were rounded off and connected. |
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Term
| What was religion like in the New Kingdom? |
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Definition
| Amon was the god of the city of Thebes. They worshipped a new god who became Amon-Re when Thebes became the capital of Egypt. He was the most powerful god of all. there were temples built in his honor by enslaved persons captured by warring pharaohs. |
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Term
| What purpose did the temples have in the New Kingdom? |
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Definition
| The temples were industrial centers giving work to artisans and sculptors. They had treasuries filled with copper, gold jewelry, glass bottles, grain, dried fish and sweet smelling oils. They acted as schools where boys trained to be scribes. |
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| What was the New Kingdom like? |
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Definition
| The New Kingdom was formed when Ahmose founded another line of Pharaohs. Egypt became richer and cities grew. The pharaohs marched their armies east of Nile Valley. The Pharaoh-warrior Thutmose III extended Egyptian control into Syria and Palestine. |
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Term
| Who was Hatsheput and what did she do? |
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Definition
Hatshepsut ruled Egypt before Thutmose III who was her stepson. Her main interest was increasing trade and building temples. She sent traders to sail along the coast of east Africa to the land of Punt during her reign.
Egyptians traded beads and metal tools for ivory, ebony, monkeys, hunting dogs, leopard skins and incense. |
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| In 1360 BC, Thutmose's son-in-law Tutankhamen became pharaoh. He was nine years old. Egypt returned to old religion. He died after ruling for nine years. |
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Term
| What brought on the decline of Egypt? |
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Definition
| The priests of Amon-Re gained power and wealth over time. They owned one-third of Egypt’s land, played major role in government and the Pharaoh’s power declined. The priests and pharaohs struggled with each other so that most energy and money was spent on war. Other countries had iron weapons whereas Egypt then spent money to get iron weapons - they ran out of money. In 1150 BC, the empire was gone and was taken over by Assyrians in 671 BC. |
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Term
| Why was the Nile River so important to the growth of Egyptian civilization? |
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Definition
| Most Egyptians lived along the banks of the Nile River. The banks overflowed and created fertile growing areas. |
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