Ancient Egypt: Religion, Writing, Society, and Kingdoms

Vocabulary flashcards covering the major concepts from the lecture on Ancient Egypt: religion, writing, social structure, and historical periods.

Ma'at

The balance and order of the universe that Egyptian rulers must maintain; without ma'at, chaos would ensue.

Polytheism (Egyptian religion)

Belief in many gods; pharaohs were also considered divine or semi-divine beings within this system.

Pharaoh

Egyptian king who ruled as a god or demigod and was responsible for maintaining ma'at and Egypt’s stability.

Ra (Re)

The chief sun god of Egypt; central deity in the pantheon and widely worshipped.

Osiris

God of vegetation, the Nile, and judge of the dead; central to beliefs about the afterlife.

Isis

Goddess of earth and water; sister and wife of Osiris and a key figure in Egyptian myth and religion.

Mummification

Process of preserving the body for the afterlife, involving removal and preservation of organs and careful sealing.

Pyramids

Tombs for pharaohs and elite; iconic death homes that symbolized royal power and the afterlife.

Hieroglyphics

Egyptian writing system that began as pictographs and evolved to represent sounds and ideas; written on papyrus with ink.

Cuneiform

Mesopotamian writing system written on clay tablets; a major comparison point with hieroglyphics.

Rosetta Stone

Discovered in 1799, it contained inscriptions in hieroglyphics, Demotic, and Greek, enabling scholars to decipher hieroglyphics.

Papyrus

Plant-based writing material used with ink; a key medium for hieroglyphic writing on scrolls.

Dynasties

Egyptian rulers organized into families; 31 dynasties spanning ancient Egyptian history.

Archaic Period (Egypt)**

Early phase (c. 3100–2700 BCE) marked by centralized authority under leaders like Menes (Manas) who unified Egypt.

Old Kingdom

Period (c. 2700–2220 BCE) of centralized government, bureaucracy, and monumental pyramids, including Khufu’s Great Pyramid.

Middle Kingdom

Period (c. 2050–1700 BCE) noted for trade expansion, irrigation, land reclamation, and public works.

Hyksos

Foreign rulers who invaded Egypt (c. 1700–1570 BCE) using horses and chariots, leading to the Second Intermediate Period.

New Kingdom

Egypt’s empire-era (c. 1570–1100 BCE) marked by territorial expansion, a golden age of power, and famous pharaohs like Tutankhamun and Ramses II.

Kushites

People from Kush who conquered Egypt after the New Kingdom, preserving Egyptian culture and governance under new leadership.

Ahmose

Egyptian leader who expelled the Hyksos and began the New Kingdom’s resurgence and expansion.

Nefertiti

Queen and co-ruler with Akhenaten; known for attempts to shift Egypt toward monotheism during the New Kingdom.

Tutankhamun (King Tut)

Pharaoh famous for his well-preserved tomb, symbolizing the wealth and mystery of the New Kingdom.

Ramses II (Ramses the Great)

One of Egypt’s most renowned pharaohs; long reign and notable military and architectural achievements.

Women in Ancient Egypt

Women could own property, divorce, and hold jobs; some served as priestesses or rulers (e.g., Nefertiti, Cleopatra).