Old Kingdom (c.2600-2200); Middle Kingdom (c. 2000-1600) and New Kingdom (c.
1500-1050) – historic periodization of ancient Egypt
Imhotep - The architect who developed the pyramid as a monumental construction; later
venerated almost like a god.
Saqqara – the site of the first Egyptian pyramidal tombs
Khufu – Egyptian pharaoh, famous for his huge pyramid 480 ft high, one of the Seven
Wonders of the ancient world
Khefren – Egyptian pharaoh, built one of the largest pyramids at Giza
Akhetaten – Horizon of Aten, the new capital founded by Akhenaten, part of the so-
called “Amarna Revolution,” an attempt to introduce a monotheistic religion centered on
the sun disc.
Hatshepsut (1472-1457) – Egyptian famous queen who ruled as a pharaoh and was
portrayed with male attributes in visual media
Thebes, Abydos and Memphis - Egypt cities
Hyksos – warrior people of the Near East who conquered Lower Egypt in the 18th c BC
Ramses II (1279-1213) – one of the most successful pharaohs and military leaders of the
New Kingdom
Battle of Kadesh (1275) – the first major battle where the armies of great kings fought
each other directly (Egyptians and Hittites). Both powers claimed the victory.
“Rosetta stone” – tri-lingual inscription used by 19th c. scholars to finally decipher
Egyptian hieroglyphic writing - had two types of signs – logograms (indicates a word
through meaning) and phonograms (indicate a word through sound). Hieroglyphic
writing was used on inscriptions and monuments and hieratic (cursive hieroglyphic) in
manuscripts. Demotic took over in the 7th c. (daily use writing as opposed to religious
and official) while in the Christian era Coptic developed (alphabet) which remained in
use until the 12th c.