Egypt flashcards

Upper Egypt

the southern part of ancient Egypt

Lower Egypt

The northern part of ancient Egypt

cataracts

rapids along a river, such as those along the Nile in Egypt

delta

triangular area of marshland formed by deposits of silt at the mouth of some rivers

pharaoh

A ruler of ancient Egypt

dynasty

A series of rulers from the same family

Old Kingdom

a period in Egyptian history that lasted from about 2700 BC to 2200 BC, when pharaohs were constructing pyramids as burial chambers

Middle Kingdom

a period of order and stability that lasted until about 1750 BC, there was no central ruler; Egypt was conquered by the Hyksos

New Kingdom

the period from about 1550 to 1050 BC in Egyptian history when Egypt reached the height of its power and glory

theocracy

A government controlled by religious leaders

nobles

people from rich and powerful families

afterlife

life after death

engineering

The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes

hieroglyphics

An ancient Egyptian writing system in which pictures were used to represent ideas and sounds

papyrus

A long-lasting, paper-like material made from reeds

Nile River

It is around 4000 miles long and flows from SOUTH to NORTH

mummies

the Egyptian method of preserving dead bodies by wrapping them in cloth

pyramids

monumental architecture typical of Old Kingdom Egypt; used as burial sites for pharaohs.

Rosetta Stone

a huge stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics, Greek, and a later form of Egyptian that allowed historians to understand Egyptian writing.

sphinxes

imaginary creatures with the bodies of lions and the heads of other animals or humans

obelisk

a tall, pointed, four-sided pillar in ancient Egypt

Hatshepsut

First female pharaoh who expanded Egypt through trade

Ramses II

Ruler of New Kingdom Egypt. He led long battle with the Hittites and built on a grand scale throughout Egypt.

Tutankhamen

youngest Pharaoh of Egypt who died at an early age; his tomb found intact in 1922 by Howard Carter

Menes

The first pharaoh of Egypt, he united the kingdoms of lower and upper Egypt and created first Egyptian dynasty

Khufu

the most famous pharaoh of the Old Kingdom

Hyksos

the people who invaded Egypt during Middle Kingdom and ruled for 200 years; when they were defeated it began the New Kingdom in Egyptian history

Embalming

process developed by the ancient Egyptians of preserving a person's body after death

Kush

an ancient African kingdom in the region of Nubia whose rulers controlled Egypt during it's Kushite Dynasty

Merchants

traders who travel from one place to another buying and selling goods

ivory

hard white material made from elephant tusks

ebony

a type of dark, heavy wood found in parts of Africa

Imports

goods brought into a country that have been produced somewhere else

Exports

goods produced in a country that are sold somewhere else

trade network

a system of people in different lands who trade goods back and forth

Meroe

capital and economic center of the Kush dynasty from about 250 B.C. to A.D. 150; known for its manufacture of iron weapons and tools.

Nubia

This region of northeast Africa included ancient societies like Egypt and Kush

Kashta

King of Kush who conquered Upper Egypt

Piankhi

Ruler of Kush who believed the gods wanted him to rule over all of Egypt. His army captured Lower Egypt around 716 BC

Aksum

A kingdom along the Red Sea today known as Ethiopia and Eritrea which grew wealthy from trade; they destroyed the Kush capital of Meroe

Assyrians

Known as a warrior people who ruthlessly conquered neighboring countries using iron weapons. They drove the Kushite Dynasty out and captured Egypt around 670 BC