Ancient Civilizations - Egyptian and Greek Vocabulary (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the video notes on Ancient Egyptian and Greek civilizations.

Narmer

Early ruler who unified Egypt around 3200 BCE.

Temple

Sanctuary believed to be the home of a god or goddess, worshipped by priests and the pharaoh.

Mummification

Egyptian preservation of the body for the afterlife, including removing internal organs and drying the body with natron.

Brain removal

Brain removed through the nose during mummification and discarded.

Heart left

Heart left in the body; believed to be used in the afterlife for intelligence and emotion.

Canopic jars

Jars that held the deceased's internal organs during mummification.

Hapi

Baboon-headed god of the North associated with the lungs.

Imsety

Human-headed god of the South associated with the liver.

Qebehseneuf

Falcon-headed god of the West associated with the intestines.

Duamutef

Jackal-headed god of the East associated with the stomach.

Natron

Salt used to dry and preserve the body during mummification.

Linen wrapping

Wrapping the mummy in linen cloth as part of the mummification process.

Sarcophagus

Stone coffin in which the mummified body was placed.

Hieroglyphics

Ancient Egyptian picture-writing system used on walls and monuments.

Papyrus

Plant used to make writing material (papyrus) in ancient Egypt.

Kohl

Cosmetics made from soot and galena used to darken eyelids.

Wig

Hair coverings worn for beauty, hygiene, and protection; a sign of social status.

Irrigation

System of watering fields, including canals and ditches.

Shaduf

Boom-and-basin device used to lift water for irrigation.

Calendar

Egyptian 365-day year: 12 months of 30 days plus 5 extra days; solar year.

Egypt location

Egypt is located in North Africa.

Medicine and Physician

Knowledge of healing herbs, repairing injuries, eye surgery, and anatomy from embalming.

Dentistry

Extraction of teeth, draining abscesses, and making false teeth.

Mathematics

Ancient Egyptian math included addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and basic geometry.

Trade

Sea-based trade as a livelihood, connected to the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

Greek Civilization (8th century BC)

Era of development in government, art, architecture, philosophy, and sport.

Zeus

King of the Greek gods.

Theater

Large open-air performance venues with theatron (audience), orchestra, and skene (stage building).

Water Mill

Device used in agriculture to mill grains and process cereals.

Greek Houses

Poor rural areas or crowded urban slums; multi-story blocks of apartments.

Courtyard houses

Larger houses built around a central courtyard.

Wealthy houses

Luxurious homes for well-to-do craftsmen or farmers with large households and many slaves.

Socrates

Philosopher who developed the Socratic Method of questioning to explore good and justice.

Plato

Socrates’ student; founded The Academy of Athens, the first Western higher-learning institution.

Aristotle

Plato’s student; emphasized empirical study and proposed the Four Causes (material, formal, efficient, final).

Thales

Philosopher who proposed that water is the source of all things.

Pythagoras

Mathematician who contributed to geometry; associated with the Pythagorean Theorem.

Empedocles

Philosopher who proposed the four fundamental elements: fire, air, earth, and water.

Democritus

Philosopher who developed atomism—the idea that everything is made of indivisible atoms.

Archimedes

Scientist known for the principle of buoyancy.