Ancient Egypt Midterm

Lower Egypt

Located downstream of the Nile, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. LE is a broad expanse (Delta)

Upper Egypt

The upstream part of the Nile in the south of Egypt. UE flows through a valley between 5 and 10 miles wide that is lined by cliffs restricting its course. Ends at the first cataract

Cataracts

where the river is very shallow and rocky islands and boulders obstruct the water flow

Lower Nubia

spans from first cataract to second cataract

Upper Nubia

spans from the 2nd cataract to the 6th cataract

Giza

King Khufu Builds Great Pyramid at Giza in the 4th dynasty. It is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

Abusir

Pyramids and solar temples built here in the 5th dynasty. The Abusir papyri of the 5th dynasty give the most detail on how a palace-related organization functioned.

Memphis

Egypt’s political capital in the Old Kingdom, most of the archaeological remains of the period come from the area of Memphis, which was the focus of royal attention

First Dyn: Establishment of Memphis near junction of Upper and Lower Egypt

Second Dyn: First royal tombs at Saqqara (alongside Memphis)

Herakleopolis

Home of First Intermediate Period dynasties: Center of first intermediate period for Dyn 9 and Dyn10.

Thebes

Center of Dyn 11 of First Intermediate Period into the Middle Kingdom. Thebes’s ambitions ended the First Intermediate Period, but the process involved took a long time. Relocation of center from Itj-tawi to Thebes in Dyn 13. which started the Second Intermediate Period

Itj-tawi

New capital founded during Dyn 12 of Middle Kingdom. Amenemhat I’s court left Thebes for a newly founded capital, called Itj‐tawi. Removed the court from the Theban families that had dominated government in the 11th dynasty and brought it closer to other political centers Herakleopolis and Memphis

Lahun

Middle Kingdom—planned town near pyramid of Senusret II

Avaris

Created during during the Middle Kingdom by King Amenemhat on an eastern branch of the Nile in the Delta. A center for trade, military innovation, and population. Capital during Dyn 15 of Second Intermediate Period. Hyksos ruled from here

Kerma

Capital of the Kingdom of Kush. Many Egyptian objects found at Kerma, which suggests that the Egyptians were trading with Kush.

Saqqara

Early Dynastic Period - Old Kingdom. The cemetery overlooking the city of Memphis where many elite were buried. Djoser’s step pyramid at Saqqara.

Kush

Major trade hub between Egypt and Sub-Saharan Africa. Between the 2nd and 3rd cataracts around the town of Kerma. Called Yam in Late Old Kingdom to First Intermediate Period; called Kush in Middle Kingdom.

Luxor

modern name of Thebes (Theban kings reunified Egypt and started the Middle Kingdom), capital of the New Kingdom

Mastaba

Burial for early dynastic kings, tomb whose superstructure has the squat shape of a bench.

Step-pyramid

Layers of mastaba; Djoser’s step pyramid was the first in the Old Kingdom

Horus

the falcon god who was the son of Osiris and Isis and the patron of the Egyptian king.

Ra

Sun god. Competing ideology with Horus

nomarch

official in charge of a nome. In Intermediate Periods nomarchs could be virtually independent rulers

Coffin text

Mortuary texts, started in the end of Old Kingdom. Used exclusively by non‐royals, aim was to make it possible for the dead to enjoy eternity.

execration texts

object intended to control enemies through magical means. The texts would be ritually smashed to symbolize Egypt destroying its enemies

C-Group

The people of independent Lower Nubia during late 5th Dyn that left behind archaeological remains

Medjay

nomads of the eastern desert, identified with the archaeologically known “Pangrave” people.

Hyksos

The rulers of the Delta acknowledged their non‐Egyptian roots, symbol of the Second Intermediate Period

pan-grave

shallow graves associated with the Medjay people

Club of Great Powers

an exclusive group of major empires in the Near East and Egypt during the New Kingdom whose whose members participated in an international system of trade, diplomacy, and culture

Ankhtify

First Intermediate Period. Know for his autobiography that equates himself to a king/god. Shows that nomarchs asserted powers that were previously reserved for kings

Heqanakht

Middle Kingdom. The existence of a private economic sector beside the state‐run is revealed through the Heqanakht papyri. His letters contain his concerns for the coming agricultural year

Imhotep

King Djoser’s chief architect that created the step pyramid

Merer

inspector in charge of stone transport during the Old Kingdom who documents activities of a boat crew during the transportation of stones for the building of Khufu’s great pyramid. Gives us some idea of the detail of the record keeping

Ahmose son of Ibana

His autobiography which shows himself being promoted from Warrior of the ruler to crew commander. Shows how a lower level military man makes a living/career in the army during the New Kingdom

Djoser

Ruler during the 3rd Dynasty who built the first stone mortuary complex (step pyramid) at Saqqara

Sneferu

King during 3rd Dynasty who built three pyramids at Meidum and Dahshur

Khufu

Ruler during 3rd Dynasty who built the Great Pyramid at Giza

Khafra

Ruler during the 3rd Dynasty who built the second pyramid at Giza and Great Sphinx

Menkaura

Ruler during 3rd Dynasty who built the third pyramid at Giza

Pepy II

Ruler during the 6th dynasty. Longest rule of ancient Egyptian history in Manetho’s list, under him regionalization of power becomes visible

Mentuhotep

Ruler during the 11th Dynasty who reunified Upper and Lower Egypt (started the Middle Kingdom)

Amenemhat

first king of the 12th dynasty

Senusret

Central force during the Middle Kingdom, fought a lot, very powerful. His boundary stele is a prime example of the king as a warrior

Thutmose I and Thutmose III

Rulers during the New Kingdom who expanded Egypt’s military into Asia

Hittite

Part of the Club of Great powers. major rival power in the region; Battle of Kadesh

Babylonia

region of southern Iraq and western Iran. many characteristics of the ancient Egyptian state appeared in Babylonia

Assyria

part of the eastern Mediterranean system which participated in political, military, economic, and cultural terms

Mittanni

Military competition with egypt during the 18th dynasty

Kingdom of Kush

Existed from the First Intermediate Period to the early New Kingdom. Traded with Egypt

Mycenaean world

Cyprus, and western Iranian Elam

Punt

referenced in the reliefs carved on the walls of Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple that depict a voyage to the land of Punt