2-4

Ramses II - mummy

- (1292-1190 B.C.) known for his building programs and for the wars he waged with the Hittites and Libyans; he reigned for more than 66 years and is known for the construction of Egypt's most famous monuments and architecture

Thutmose III

- (1504-1426 B.C.) shared power with his stepmother Queen Hatshepsut before becoming pharaoh; he battled to regain Egyptian rule of Syria and Palestine and created Egypt's largest dynasty

Hatshepsut

- (1507-1458 B.C.) Egypt's first female ruler; served for 20 years alongside her husband, Thutmose II, but after his death took the role of pharaoh and served as regent to Thutmose III; she is known for building temples and monuments and generally making Egypt flourish

The Middle Kingdom

- (c. 1938-1630 B.C.) turbulent period; Egyptian armies occupied part of Nubia (also known as Kush), a gold-rich land to the south; traders also had greater contacts with the peoples of the Middle East and the Mediterranean island of Crete

Papyrus

- - plant used to make a paper-like writing material in ancient Egypt; paper would not be invented until about A.D. 100, in China

Amon-Re

- Considered the king of the gods - present in the mythology and culture of the Egyptian people from their beginning; Egyptians believed that he gave the pharaohs their right to rule

Osiris

- The Egyptian god of the afterlife - often depicted as a green-skinned man with a pharaoh's beard, partially mummy-wrapped at the legs wearing a crown with ostrich feathers, holding a symbolic crook

Menes

- according to classical tradition - king of Upper Egypt; he united the two regions in about 3100 B.C.; he founded Egypt's first capital at Memphis, a site near where the Nile empties into its delta

decline of Egypt

- after 1100 B.C., Egyptian power slowly declined; invaders, such as the Assyrians and the Persians, conquered the Nile region - in 332 B.C., the last Egyptian dynasty ended as the Greeks took control (Alexandar the Great) - in 30 B.C., Roman armies displaced the Greeks. Each new conqueror was eager to add the fertile Nile Valley to a growing empire

Vizier

- chief minister who supervised the business of government in ancient Egypt - under the vizier, various departments looked after tax collection, farming, and the all-important irrigation system; thousands of scribes carried out the vizier's instructions

Pyramids

- contained tombs for the pharaohs; their bodies were preserved and provided them with everything they would need in their new lives; building each of the pyramids took so long that often a pharaoh would begin to build his tomb as soon as he came to power

Hyksos

- foreign invaders that occupied the Nile region beginning around 1700 B.C.; although they took over the governance of Egypt (c. 1630-1523 B.C.), there was little conflict between the new rulers and the Egyptian people; after more than 100 years, new Egyptian leaders arose and established the New Kingdom

Lower Egypt

- in the north; covered the delta region where the Nile empties into the Mediterranean The nile runs North

Upper Egypt

- in the south; stretched from the Nile's first cataract, or waterfall, to within 100 miles of the Mediterranean Sea

Akhenaton

- king of Egypt for 17 years (c. 1353-1336 B.C.); he abandoned traditional Egyptian polytheism (many gods) and established a new cult (one god) dedicated to the Aton, the sun's disk; his attempt to start a new religion died with him in 1336 B.C.

mummification

- preservation of dead bodies by embalming and wrapping them in cloth

hieroglyphics

- system of writing in which pictures called hieroglyphs represent objects, concepts, or sounds - the Egyptians used hieroglyphs to record important economic, administrative, and royal information

Pharoh

- title of the rulers of ancient Egypt - held absolute power and played key roles in government and religion; Egyptians believed each pharaoh was a god, however, the pharaohs were also seen as human

deciphering

- to figure out the meaning ofRosetta Stone - (discovered 1799; hieroglyphics translated in 1822) stone monument that includes the same passage carved in hieroglyphics, demotic script, and Greek and that was used to decipher the meanings of many hieroglyphs

Delta

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

Isis

- wife of Osiris - worshiped as the ideal mother and wife; known as the protector of the dead and goddess of children; usually portrayed as a woman, wearing a throne-shaped headdress

How did mummification reflect Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife? Egyptians believed that people did not really die. Egyptians believed in an afterlife in which people would need their bodies. Egyptians believed that only people who were mummies would live forever. Egyptians believed that mummification prevented death.

How did mummification reflect Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife? Egyptians believed that people did not really die. Egyptians believed in an afterlife in which people would need their bodies. Egyptians believed that only people who were mummies would live forever. Egyptians believed that mummification prevented death.

Dynasty

Ruling family

Upper Egypt refers to the high desert area outside the Nile Valley. the area between Lower Egypt and the first cataract. the area south of the first cataract and the Mediterranean. the area near the Nile delta and the Mediterranean

Upper Egypt refers to the high desert area outside the Nile Valley. the area between Lower Egypt and the first cataract. the area south of the first cataract and the Mediterranean. the area near the Nile delta and the Mediterranean

What was one result of the period of expansion during the New Kingdom? Egyptians came into greater contact with the Middle East and parts of Africa. Egypt quickly grew too large and couldn't sustain itself. Egyptians spent all their time building monuments to glorify their accomplishments. Egypt was constantly at war with its neighbors to expand the empire.

What was one result of the period of expansion during the New Kingdom? Egyptians came into greater contact with the Middle East and parts of Africa. Egypt quickly grew too large and couldn't sustain itself. Egyptians spent all their time building monuments to glorify their accomplishments. Egypt was constantly at war with its neighbors to expand the empire.

Which of the following identifies important advances in learning made by the ancient Egyptians? Hieroglyphics, knowledge of the human body, and geometry Cuneiform, advanced farming techniques, and pyramids Knowledge of surgery, creation of a legal code, and a writing system Hieroglyphics, surgery, and Hammurabi's Code

Which of the following identifies important advances in learning made by the ancient Egyptians? Hieroglyphics, knowledge of the human body, and geometry Cuneiform, advanced farming techniques, and pyramids Knowledge of surgery, creation of a legal code, and a writing system Hieroglyphics, surgery, and Hammurabi's Code

Which statement best describes the period known as the Old Kingdom? It was a time of disunity. It was a time of dynastic uncertainty. It was a time of development. It was a time of great geographic expansion.

Which statement best describes the period known as the Old Kingdom? It was a time of disunity. It was a time of dynastic uncertainty. It was a time of development. It was a time of great geographic expansion.

Which statement best describes the status of Egyptian women? Egyptian women could not own property and were given a few rights. Egyptian women had a high level of independence. Egyptian women were allowed to become scribes for viziers. Egyptian women were not allowed to have their own occupations.

Which statement best describes the status of Egyptian women? Egyptian women could not own property and were given a few rights. Egyptian women had a high level of independence. Egyptian women were allowed to become scribes for viziers. Egyptian women were not allowed to have their own occupations.

Cataract

a large waterfall (blockage)