Studied by 3 people
Menes
The King of Egypt who united the two kingdoms of Egypt into one empire around 3100 B.C. He and his successors used the Nile River as a highway to connect the northern & southern regions of Egypt.
Hatshepsut
An Egyptian queen who reigned from 1503 B.C to 1482 B.C. She declared herself pharaoh, as the male heir was too young. She wore a false beard as a sign of authority & encouraged trade in the eastern Mediterranean lands.
Ramses II
An Egyptian king known for his military victories. Between 1290 B.C. & 1224 B.C. he pushed the boundaries of Egypt north to Palestine & Syria. He often boasted of his victories, but his greatest “victory” against the Hittites is accounted as a defeat in other countries, but not Egypt.
pharaoh
The name for Egyptian rulers who claimed divine support for their rule & were believed to be gods.
Amon-Re
The chief god of the Egyptian pantheon and of the sun. He was closely linked to the ruling pharaoh, who which could only hold ceremonies for this god.
Tutankhamen
King Tut. Known as the boy king of Egypt, famous for his dazzling tomb discovered by Howard Carter in 1922.
Rosetta Stone
A flat, black bust that display Egyptian hieroglyphics, Sumerian demonic, & Greek. This relic allowed French scholar, Jean Champollion to decipher the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphics after centuries of confusion.
mummification
The Egyptian method of preserving the dead.
hieroglyphics
The Egyptian form of writing used to keep important records.
papyrus
A plant of the Nile used as paper for everyday recordings.
Osiris
Egyptian ruler of the underworld and God of the Nile married to his sister. He was believed to control the annual flooding of the Nile.
Isis
Sister and wife of Osiris. She taught the women of Egypt to grind corn, spin flax, weave cloth, and care for children.
Epic of Gilgamesh
A long narrative poem that is one of the oldest pieces of literature. It is not only a story of mythological events, but also a window into Sumerian society.
ziggurat
Sumerian temples that were built similarly to Egyptian pyramids. The largest buildings of Sumerian cities that were adorned with temples.
cuneiform
The earliest form of writing created by the Sumerians around 3200 B.C. A system of pictographs used by priests to record temple goods.
Sargon
Ruler of Akkad who invaded Sumer and conquered its city-states in 2300 B.C. and became known as the first empire builder.
Hammurabi
Known for his code: “The Code of Hammurabi,” this Babylonian King took control of most of Mesopotamia in 17900 B.C. and used his code to unite the new Babylonian empire. His code was carved into a stone pillar to display all 300 of his laws for all his people to see.
Nebuchadnezzar
An aggressive and ruthless king who revived Babylon and expanded his empire from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. He rebuilt canals, walls, palaces, and even had the Hanging Gardens of Babylon built for his wife.
Cyrus the Great
Leader of the Persian armies who defeated the Babylonians in battle allowing he & his successors to conquer and create the largest empire yet seen.
Darius
He ruled from 522 B.C. to 486 B.C., this Persian emperor united the empire which ran from Asia minor to India. He divided the empire into provinces, built roads, and controlled his people under one set of laws.
satrap
Governors who headed the Persian provinces under the emperor.
Zoroaster
A Persian thinker who helped the unite the empire and rejected the old gods. He instead taught that a single god, Ahura Mazda, ruled the world and was constantly in conflict with Ahriman, prince of evil and lies. Zoroaster believed that every individual had to pick which side to support. His teachings were recorded in Zend-Avesta.
Moses
He led the Hebrews to their exodus from slavery in Egypt, allowing the Hebrews to later create the kingdom of Israel.
David
A humble shepherd who became king of the Hebrews. He united the Hebrew tribes into one kingdom.
Soloman
The son of David who won praise for his wisdom and understanding. He tried to increase Israel’s influence by negotiating with Egypt and Mesopotamia
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