History Test Ancient Egypt

What does a civilization need in order to thrive?

Government, laws, access to food, water, shelter, clothing, and currency. Goods and services should be offered by both the government and citizens.

Ancient name of Egypt

Misr

When was Egypt first settled?

5000 BC

Where is Egypt located? (ON A COMPASS)

Northeast corner of Africa

What 3 natural barriers surrounded Egypt?

Deserts, mountains, and the Mediterranean Sea

Why did Egyptian civilization develop around the Nile River? (WHAT DID IT PROVIDE)

Water, fertile soil, transportation, and trade routes.

Why was Egypt called “the Gift of the Nile”?

Nile’s yearly flooding made the land fertile and supported life.

What inventions came from predictable Nile flooding?

Irrigation systems and tools to measure water levels.

What kind of soil did the Nile provide?

Rich soil that produced surplus crops.

What farming methods did Egyptians use?

Terrace farming and animal-assisted plows.

How did the Nile River help with trade?

Linked Upper and Lower Egypt and encouraged bartering.

What was the pharaoh’s role in government?

Appointed governors who collected taxes, served as judges, and managed flood waters.

What was the pharaoh’s religious role?

Believed to be the child of Ra, the sun god, giving life to Egypt and its people.

What type of government did Egypt have?

Theocracy.

How long did pharaoh worship last?

Over 4000 years.

What type of religion did Egyptians practice?

Polytheism.

How were Egyptian gods depicted?

As animals or as human bodies with animal heads.

What were pyramids built for?

Sacred tombs and places of worship.

What are hieroglyphics?

Sacred writings used to record history, taxes, and government records.

How many symbols were in the Egyptian alphabet?

About 800.

Who were scribes?

Highly educated record-keepers; only boys could become scribes.

What was the role of writing in Egyptian society?

It showed education and was used in religion, government, and art.

What is cultural diffusion?

When two cultures blend through sharing ideas, goods, and activities.

What were trading states of East Africa?

Port Adulis, Axum, Aden, Mecca, Meroë, Petra, Berenice, Malaca, Memphis.

Which regions traded with East Africa?

India, Europe, and East Africa in a triangular network trading animal hides, spices, ivory, gold, iron, and gems.

How did cultural diffusion lead to Swahili culture?

African and Asian people blended languages and customs, creating Swahili.

Who was Ibn Battuta?

A Muslim traveler who made the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca and recorded his journeys.

What was the purpose of the Dama ceremony?

A funeral celebrating the dead person’s life and helping their soul reach the afterlife.

What else does a Dama stand for in Mali culture?

Transition into manhood.

What issue was Ottomei facing?

He hadn’t gone through the Dama ceremony.

What role did Ottomei’s grandfather play?

He could start the Dama, but calling it too soon could bring death.

What did the fortune-teller do in the Dama story?

He intended to contact spirits through the white fox.

What is the purpose of the red mask in the Dama?

To protect the dancer from evil spirits.

What does the Kanga Mask represent?

Top = sky, bottom = earth, middle = universe.

Why should the Dama dance line not be crossed?

Because souls are linked while dancing. Crossing the line breaks the connection.

In traditional African religions, how do people contact the Creator God?

From people to Religious Leaders to Spirits and Ancestors to Creator God.

Who are religious leaders in traditional African religions?

Priests, rainmakers, and herbalists

What is expected of people in traditional African religions?

Be obedient, attend rituals, and seek help from religious leaders when facing problems.

Where was Ghana located?

On the “V” formed by the Niger and Senegal Rivers.

Religion in Ghana

Islam

Ghana’s economy

Controlled gold-salt trade in West Africa.

Ghana’s government

The king was a god-like figure who kept order and justice.

Ghana’s decline

Muslims from North Africa seized trade routes and West African powers took over.

Where was Mali located?

Upper Niger River.

Religion in Mali

Islam

Mali’s economy

Controlled gold and salt mining and trade.

Mali’s government

Had a great ruler who based laws on the Quran and focused on justice.

Mali’s decline

Disputes over leadership caused the empire to weaken.

Where was Songhai located?

Bend of the Niger River.

Religion in Songhai

Islam

Songhai’s economy

Gold mines and center of trade.

Songhai’s government

Had a soldier-king that later became a Muslim dynasty.

Songhai’s decline

Moroccan invaders attacked and killed Muslim scholars.

Where was Benin and Hausa located?

South of the savanna in the rainforest.

Religion in Benin and Hausa

Islam

Benin & Hausa economy

Labor from leather and cotton workers. Trade with North Africa.

Benin & Hausa government

King was the political, judicial, and religious leader, but power was shared.

Benin & Hausa decline

Conquered by Hausa rulers.

What were the 2 main valuable for African trade?

Gold and salt

Why was gold important in Africa?

It was their currency

What is a commodity?

Anything that holds economic value.

What is a necessity?

Something you need to live.

Why would someone trade gold for salt?

Salt was a necessity while gold was a commodity.

Why did Great Zimbabwe decline?

Over-farming and loss of trade routes weakened the city.

Which 4 European nations had a presence in Africa?

Spain, France, England, and Portugal.

How did Europeans impact Africa?

Expanded trade routes, built trading posts, enslaved Africans, and took control of territories.

Significance of religion

Religion was part of everyday life. No separation between the everyday and the sacred.

How did culture connect to religion?

Culture followed religion.

Importance of rituals

Essential for the good of the community

Purpose of religion in African communities

Maintain the safety and unity of the community.

Acceptance of other religions

Very accepting and adopted ideas from Christianity and Islam

How were teachings of religions taught

Passed down through griots

What is the spirit world

Africans believed in a world where spirits of the dead continued to live and influence the living.

Animism

Belief that everything contains a spirit

Supreme being belief

One god

Role of religious leaders

Communicate with the spirit world for the good of community

Diviners or fortune tellers

Helped people find solutions to physical and emotional problems.

Dancers’ spiritual role

Served as links between the spiritual and physical worlds. When wearing masks, they became the spirit.

Purpose of African masks

used in ceremonies, funerals, and festivals to connect with ancestors, celebrate life, and bring unity.

Materials used for African masks

wood, raffia, cloth, shells, and metal

How did artist show respect to nature when mask making

Artists often prayed or gave offerings before cutting wood

Role of mask artists

connects the living to the spiritual world

Function of masks in society

honored ancestors, taught bravery and respect, and were believed to help dancers become the spirits they represented.

Patterns on African masks

triangles, zigzags, and circles

Smooth mask symbolism

Beauty and youth

Rough mask symbolism

Fear and danger

Baule Mask

Used in funerals and festivals to bring harmony and peace; smooth, calm features symbolized balance.

Dan Mask

Smooth and shiny; used by secret societies to teach moral behavior.

Bamana Mask

Used in agricultural rituals and initiation ceremonies; connects humans, nature, and spirits.

Pende Mask

represents ancestors and spirits; used in ceremonies marking major life events.

Fang Mask

Long, heart-shaped mask representing purity; used to protect tribes from evil and honor ancestors.

purpose of Early slave trade (before 1400)

Provided soldiers, servants, and artisans to Mediterranean nations; slaves were members of society.

Relationship between Europeans and African sellers

Based on give-and-take trading rather than forced racial slavery.

How the slave trade changed after 1400

Focused on agricultural labor for plantations; enslaved people lost rights and became property.

Reason for the growth of the slave trade

European labor shortages increased demand for slaves.

Changes after 1441

Slave trade became organized and widespread across the Atlantic.

John Green – meaning of chattel

movable property

Where did most enslaved Africans go?

48% to the Caribbean and 41% to Brazil.

Who was responsible for slavery according to John Green?

The entire world.

African forms of slavery

debtor slavery, criminal slavery, and prisoners of war; not based on race and not always permanent.