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Ancient Egypt Study guide
Name: _______________________
Social Studies
Date: ________________________
Definitions:
1. A cataract is a large waterfall, or a strong flood or rush of water
2. A delta is a plain at the mouth of a river.
3. Silt is the fine soil found on river bottoms that is very fertile.
4. A Pharaoh is a king of ancient Egypt and is a powerful leader.
5. A dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family or ethnic
group.
6. A regent is someone who rules for a child until the child is old
enough to rule.
7. A mummy is a dead body that is preserved in lifelike condition.
8. A pyramid is a huge building with four sloping triangle-shaped
sides and was built as royal tombs in Egypt.
9. Hieroglyphs are pictures and other written symbols that stand for
ideas, things, or sounds.
10.Papyrus is an early form of paper made from a reed plant found in
the marshy areas of the Nile delta. It was used to make papyrus.
Key concepts:
11. The Nile River is the world’s longest river.
12. The Nile River flows from South to North.
13. The Nile flooded about the same time every year.
14. The Nile’s flood pattern was predictable.
15. The Nile River was used for trade and travel.
16. The hot desert protected Egypt from foreign attacks.
17. The Nubian section of the Nile contained six cataracts.
18. The Nile affected ancient Egyptian life by creating rich farmland.
19. Pharaohs governed their people with absolute power.
20. The Old Kingdom pharaohs kept peace and trade with Nubia.
21. The government became weak and divided by the end of the Old
Kingdom.
22. The early rulers of the Middle Kingdom restored order and
reunited the country. They constructed buildings and irrigation
projects.
23. The first Pharaohs of the New Kingdom expanded Egypt’s
armies and became unbeatable.
24. Hatshepsut was a self-proclaimed Pharaoh during the New
Kingdom. She was a regent, or ruled in place of her stepson,
Thutmose III until her death.
25. Thutmose III was one of the greatest rulers of the New Kingdom.
He was known for treating those he defeated with mercy,
conquering many lands, and was and educated man who studied
plants.
26. Egyptians were polytheistic, or believed in many gods and
goddesses.
27. Religion explained the natural events to the people of Egypt.
28. The Egyptians believed in the afterlife, or life after death. They
demonstrated these beliefs by preserving the bodies of the dead.
29. Ancient Egyptian astronomers studied the stars to predict the
flooding of the Nile River.
30. Egyptian society’s social structure resembled a pyramid. The
Pharaoh was at the top, and the largest class, the peasants, were at
the bottom.
31. Egyptian women were looked upon as living models of Isis, the
wife of the god Osiris. Women had had most of the same rights as
men.
32. Hieroglyphs were created to help Egyptians keep track of the
country’s growing wealth.
33. The Rosetta Stone was an important discovery. It helped
“unlock” the meaning of the hieroglyphs written on the stone in
three languages.
34. The ancient Egyptians made important advances in astronomy,
medicine, and mathematics.
Identify whether the statement is describing Mesopotamia, Egypt,
or both?
________ Located between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers
________ Located along the Nile River
________ The river (s) is (are) used for travel and trade
________ Civilization developed along and/or between a river(s)
________ Cuneiform was developed here
________ Hieroglyphics were developed here
________ Flooding was unpredictable
________ Flooding was predictable
________ Hammurabi’s Code was developed here
________ Religion was polytheistic
________ Flooding brought rich soil to the civilizations