Understanding Ancient Egypt: From Herodotus to the Middle Kingdom

These flashcards are designed to encapsulate key terms and definitions relating to ancient Egyptian history and its notable figures, structures, and concepts, drawn directly from the lecture notes.

Herodotus

Ancient Greek historian known as the 'Father of History', who wrote about Egypt and its cultures.

Kemet

The name Egyptians used to refer to their land, meaning 'black land' or 'rich land'.

Manetho

An Egyptian priest and historian from the third century BC, credited with organizing Egyptian history into a structured timeline.

Egyptologist

A scholar who studies the history, language, archaeology, and culture of ancient Egypt.

Memphis

The capital city established by Menes in Lower Egypt, significant for its historical importance.

Pharaoh

The title for the monarchs of ancient Egypt, considered the political and religious leader.

The Nile River

The river that was essential for the development of Egyptian civilization, providing water and fertile land.

Unified Egypt

The historical period when Upper and Lower Egypt were united under one ruler, starting with Menes.

Dynasty

A line of rulers from the same family; significant in understanding the succession of pharaohs.

Ma'at

The ancient Egyptian concept of truth, balance, order, and cosmic harmony, which pharaohs were expected to maintain.

Mummification

The process of preserving a body for the afterlife, typically involving dehydration and wrapping.

Hieroglyphics

The formal writing system of ancient Egypt, composed of symbols representing sounds or concepts.

Mastaba

An ancient Egyptian tomb structure that is rectangular and flat-roofed, serving as a precursor to pyramids.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

The largest pyramid built for pharaoh Khufu, one of the most iconic structures of ancient Egypt.

Pyramid

A monumental structure made from stone, often used as a tomb for pharaohs during the Old Kingdom.

Djoser

An early pharaoh of the Third Dynasty, known for initiating the construction of step pyramids.

Sneferu

A pharaoh known for his innovative pyramid designs, including the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid.

The Old Kingdom

A period in ancient Egyptian history marked by the construction of large pyramids and strong central authority.

Ra

The sun god in ancient Egyptian mythology, considered one of the most important deities.

The First Intermediate Period

A chaotic time in ancient Egyptian history characterized by political instability and civil war.

The Middle Kingdom

A period in ancient Egyptian history marked by reunification and decreased power of pharaohs compared to the Old Kingdom.

Seisostris III

A pharaoh known for his military campaigns against Nubia during the Middle Kingdom.

Canopic jars

Ceramic jars used to store and preserve the internal organs of mummies.

Ammon

The chief deity of Thebes during the Middle Kingdom, later combined with Ra to form Amun-Ra.

Fortifications

Defensive structures built to protect Egyptian territories from invasions, especially during the Middle Kingdom.

Papyrus

A plant used by ancient Egyptians to make a form of paper for writing.

Tutankhamun

A young pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty whose intact tomb was discovered in 1922.

Anubis

The ancient Egyptian god of mummification and the afterlife, often depicted with a jackal's head.

Imhotep

The architect of Djoser's Step Pyramid, considered one of the first known architects in history.

Lower Egypt

The northern region of ancient Egypt, closer to the Mediterranean Sea.

Upper Egypt

The southern region of ancient Egypt, upstream on the Nile River.

Pillar tombs

Tombs that were built with pillars and decorative architecture, significant in ancient Egyptian burial practices.

Polytheism

The belief in multiple gods, characteristic of ancient Egyptian religion.

Sumerians

An ancient civilization in Mesopotamia known for creating one of the world's first writing systems.

Nile Delta

The area where the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea, known for its fertile land.

The Rosetta Stone

A stone inscribed with the same text in three scripts, key to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Obelisks

Tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monuments with a pyramidion on top, often inscribed and erected in pairs.

Kafra

A pharaoh believed to have built the second-largest pyramid at Giza, sometimes identified with Khufu.

Egyptian deities

The gods worshipped in ancient Egypt, each representing specific aspects of life and nature.

Tombs of the Valley of the Kings

The burial places of pharaohs from the New Kingdom, located in a secluded area to protect against looting.

Mut

The mother goddess in ancient Egyptian theology, associated with war and protection.

Osiris

The Egyptian god of the afterlife, resurrection, and fertility, crucial in funerary practices.

The Book of the Dead

A collection of ancient Egyptian funerary texts containing spells and guidance for the afterlife.

Hieratic script

A simplified form of hieroglyphics used for writing in ancient Egypt, primarily for administrative and literary purposes.

Demotic script

The cursive writing system derived from hieratic, used for everyday writing in ancient Egypt.

Archaism

The use of archaic forms or structures in art and architecture, indicative of earlier styles.

The Sphinx

A mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head, famously associated with the pyramids of Giza.