2.2 Ancient Egypt and Nubia

Akhenaten

New Kingdom pharoh who elevated Aten, changed his name, founded a new capital, and attempted to redirect Egyptian religion. His reforms were largely reversed after his death.

Basim irrigation

A system that enclosed floodwater in fields so it could soak the soil and support crops after the Niles annual flood receded

Book of the Dead

A collection of spells and instructions intended to guide a deceased person through judgement and the dangers of afterlife

Hatshepsut

A highly successful female pharoh of the New Kingdom who used traditional masculine symbols of kingship to present herself as a legitimate ruler

Hieroglyphs

Egypts formal writing system, composed of signs representing sounds, words, and ideas, often used on monuments, tombs, and sacred objects

Hyksos

Groups from the eastern Mediterranean region who migrated into the Nile Delta and eventually ruled northern Egypt. Their period of rule expanded Egypts military technologies and regional connections

Intermediate Periods

Eras between the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, when central royal power weakened and regional rulers became more independent

maat

the egyptian ideal of truth, justice, balance, and order. Pharaohs claimed responsibility for maintaining maat in society, nature, and relations with the gods

narmer

the ruler traditionally associated with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt around 3100 BCE and known primarily through archaeological evidence such as the Narmer Palette

Nubia

A powerful region south of Egypt along the Nile. Nubia and Egypt traded, fought, competed for territory, and influenced one another culturally

Pharaoh

The ruler of ancient Egypt, understood as a political leader and sacred protector responsible for preserving the kingdom, dynasty, and maat

Pyramids

Monumental Old Kingdom royal tombs that expressed afterlife beliefs while demonstrating the Egyptian states ability to mobilize labor and resources