Ancient Egypt And Nubia Chapter 3

Front 1

Describe the course of the Nile from its source all the way to the delta.

Back 1

As the White Nile in East Africa flows north, it meets the Blue Nile coming from the Ethiopian Highlands. The Nile then flows along the 1,000 mile stretch of land once called Nubia and through the Egyptian section of the Nile - another 700 - miles to the Mediterranean Sea.

Front 2

How did the Nile river affect the lives of the early Egyptians and Nubians?

Back 2

The Nile brought the ancient Egyptians and Nubians a constant source of water, allowing them to fish, farm, trade and build communities along its banks.

Front 3

If the Nile did not flood regularly, how might the life along the river been different in ancient times?

Back 3

The land might be less fertile. There might have been less farming, less food, and therefore, less people.

Front 4

What kind of trade goods passed through the Nubia on their way to
Egypt?

Back 4

goods included ebony wood, ivory, ostrich eggs and feathers, animal skins, and throw-sticks.

Front 5

How did the cataracts of the Nile affect Nubian trade?

Back 5

The cataracts prevented Nubians from trading by traveling on the river, so Nubian trade routes had to be over land.

Front 6

How did the Nubians become famous traders?

Back 6

They carried their goods in huge caravans and to many distant lands.

Front 7

What cataracts did Lower Nubia lie between?

Back 7

The first and second cataracts.

Front 8

Where was Upper Nubia located?

Back 8

Upper Nubia was located between the second and sixth cataracts.

Front 9

Why did ancient Egyptians call their land Kemet?

Back 9

Kemet means "the black lands." They referred to their land this way because it was composed of the dark soil left by the Nile's floods.

Front 10

What was the "red" land?

Back 10

The desert that spread out on either side of the Nile.

Front 11

Why did the people of Egypt and Nubia face few invasions?

Back 11

The desert shielded the civilizations from attack.

Front 12

How were Egyptians and Nubian communities alike?

Back 12

They both had farming communities, lived along the river and traded.

Front 13

When did Egypt's first dynasty begin and by whom?

Back 13

Egypt's first dynasty began around 3100 BC, when Menes first united Upper and Lower Egypt.

Front 14

What prevented the Nubians from using the Nile River as a source of transportation among other civilizations?

Back 14

The cataracts in the river made travel impossible for the Nubians to use the river as a source of transportation.

Front 15

How did the people of Egypt benefit from the geography of the region?

Back 15

The ancient Egyptians were surrounded by hot dry deserts that kept then isolated from invaders. However, they had the waterways, such as the Nile, to provide drinking water, and allowed them to trade with other peoples and irrigate for farming to feed people.

Front 16

Describe the course of the Nile from its source all the way to the delta.

Back 16

The White Nile in East Africa flows north to meet the Blue Nile then travels to the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile empties into the Mediterranean Sea at the mouth or delta of the river.

Front 17

What are the three major time periods in Ancient Egypt?

Back 17

The Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms are the major time periods in Egypt.

Front 18

What are some causes of the gaps between the time periods?

Back 18

Causes for gaps between time periods were the result of weak pharaohs, invasions, or civil wars.

Front 19

What unusual powers did Egyptians believe their kings had?

Back 19

They believed they had the power to provide floods and the harvests that followed.

Front 20

Explain why Egypt's rulers had more authority than most rulers have today?

Back 20

Egyptians thought that rulers had god-like powers and therefore hesitated to question their authority.

Front 21

Describe some of the accomplishments of each of the three kingdoms?

Back 21

Old: Time of peace, establishment of trade with Nubia; well run governments, beginning of pyramids and other structures.
Middle: Money spent on public works; irrigation systems, buildings, roads.
New: Establishment of a great powerful army of foot soldiers, mounted warriors, and charioteers.

Front 22

What characteristics did all 3 have in common?

Back 22

All made progress/accomplishments and prospered for much of the time; all led by pharaohs.

Front 23

Describe the new Kingdom under Thutmose III and during its later decline?

Back 23

Thutmose III conquered many lands and treated those people with mercy. The N.K. declined after civil war left the Egyptians defenseless against foreign invasions. Egypt fell to Alexander the Great of Macedonia.

Front 24

Why do you think the pharaohs were so successful for so long? What factors led to the decline of Egypt?

Back 24

People believed the pharaohs were god-like and extremely powerful. Fertile lands and access to the Nile River allowed Egypt to grow and prosper. As Egypt grew, the pharaohs lost power and civil war followed.

Front 25

What were the religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians?

Back 25

Ancient Egypt believed in many gods/goddesses that controlled nature. They also believed in the "afterlife" - life after death.

Front 26

In what ways did Ancient Egyptians use religion to understand nature?

Back 26

They believed that the g/g controlled nature and this control explained the workings of nature.

Front 27

Why did the Egyptians mummify their dead?

Back 27

Egyptians believed mummification prepared the individual for the afterlife and that the spirit needed to recognize the body when it returned to receive food and offerings.

Front 28

How do we know that the afterlife was important to the ancient Egyptians?

Back 28

They took great care in preparing and preserving the body, plus they built tombs to ensure a place and comfort for the afterlife.

Front 29

Why were the pharaohs concerned about the condition of the tomb?

Back 29

They took care that they had protection from grave/tomb robbers and that the appearance of the tomb/pyramid reflected the wealth and power of the individual.

Front 30

Describe how ancient Egyptians organized the building of the pyramids.

Back 30

They carried large blocks of stone from quarries to the burial site. Then they used sleds, levers and wooden rollers to place the stones. Building ramps to get the stones to the next level of the pyramid = manpower.

Front 31

What things did the gods control?

Back 31

The gods controlled life, death, and the workings of nature.

Front 32

Why did the Egyptians believe that the gods controlled the workings of nature?

Back 32

It explained why and how things occurred, such as the sunrise and sunset.

Front 33

Why do you think some Egyptians were unable to have the bodies of their loved ones mummified?

Back 33

The process was expensive. Only wealthy Egyptians could afford it.

Front 34

Why did Egyptians begin using hieroglyphs?

Back 34

They needed a way to keep track of the growing empire's wealth.

Front 35

How was the Egyptian society organized?

Back 35

Egyptian society resembled a pyramid. Pharaoh is at the top, small upper class of nobles, priests, and member's of the court (pharaoh's family). The middle class was made up of merchants and skilled workers (artisans). The largest and lowest class was the peasants/farmers. Slaves made up a very small, but separate class.

Front 36

What was the significance of the Rosetta Stone?

Back 36

The Rosette Stone was important because it translated hieroglyphs into other languages so modern people could learn what the hieroglyphs meant.

Front 37

Why was it important for the Egyptians to figure out the length of their year?

Back 37

They needed to know when the waters of the Nile would flood.

Front 38

How were the lives of Egypt's peasants ruled by the seasons?

Back 38

During the flood season, the peasants worked on roads, temples and buildings. After the flood, they planted crops and later harvested them.

Front 39

Why did ancient Egyptians bury their dead with food and other possessions?

Back 39

They believed that people needed their possessions in order to survive in the afterlife.

Front 40

What things did the gods control?

Back 40

The gods controlled life, death, and the workings of nature.

Front 41

List three accomplishments of the ancient Egyptian civilization?

Back 41

Egyptians provided the foundation for surgery and the use of herbal medicines. Created their own writing system, as well as tools of measurement. Astronomers were responsible for determining the length of a year to be 365 days.

Front 42

Why was religion so important to the people of ancient Egypt?

Back 42

Religion was a way of explaining the forces of nature.

Front 43

What areas of science and medicine did the ancient Egyptians study?

Back 43

The Egyptians studied astronomy, herbalism and the human body.