Ancient Egypt and Kush Flashcards
(31 cards)
cataract
steep river rapids, almost impossible to sail by boat
delta
a triangle-shaped area of land made of soil deposited by a river
Menes
an Egyptian leader who united both upper and lower Egypt into one kingdom
pharaoh
ruler of unified Egypt, literally means “great house”
dynasty
a series of rulers from the same family
Old Kingdom
the third Egyptian dynasty, which lasted nearly 500 years
Khufu
the most famous pharaoh of the Old Kingdom
nobles
people from rich and powerful families
afterlife
life after death, a widely held ancient Egyptian belief
mummies
the Egyptian method of preserving dead bodies by wrapping them in cloth
elite
people of wealth and power
pyramids
huge stone tombs with four triangle-shaped walls that meet at a top point
engineering
the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
Middle Kingdom
period of stability and order in ancient Egypt between about 2050 and 1750 BC
New Kingdom
the height of Egypt’s power and glory, between 1550 and 1050 BC
trade routes
paths followed by traders
Queen Hatshepsut
New Kingdom ruler renowned for expanding Egyptian trade
Ramses the Great
important New Kingdom pharaoh who defended Egypt from invaders and strengthened defenses
heiroglyphics
Egyptian writing system, one of the world’s first, which used symbols
papyrus
long-lasting, paper-like substance made from reeds
Rosetta Stone
a stone slab discovered in 1799 that was inscribed with hieroglyphics and their Greek meanings
sphinxes
huge ancient Egyptian statues of imaginary creatures with the heads of people and the bodies of lions
obelisk
a tall, four-sided pillar that is pointed on top
King Tutankhamen
a pharaoh whose tomb was untouched by raiders, leaving much information about Egyptian art and burial practices
