Ancient Egypt: Vocabulary Study Guide

a country in northeastern Africa Egypt a country in northeastern Africa

The Nile River longest river in the world Nile River delta a delta is a triangular-shaped area of soil at the mouth of a river

a lower elevation of fertile land found by the Nile River The Nile River Valley a lower elevation of fertile land found by the Nile River

Lower and Upper Egypt Lower Egypt = northern part of Egypt Memphis was an important city on the Nile near the delta. Upper Egypt = region in Egypt south of the Nile delta

silt is a mixture of soil, bits of clay, and small rocks

a plant whose stems are used to make a kind of paper Papyrus a plant whose stems are used to make a kind of paper

waterfalls found along the Nile River Cataracts waterfalls found along the Nile River

economy = how people use and manage their resources

a form of writing based on pictures Hieroglyphics a form of writing based on pictures

Rosetta Stone Scholars learned the meaning of hieroglyphics by studying the Rosetta Stone.

burial places for kings Pyramids huge stone structures burial places for kings

Giza and Khufu Giza is the city in Egypt where the Great Pyramid is located Khufu was the pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid

A mummy is a preserved body. Mummies A mummy is a preserved body.

Pharaoh = Egyptian ruler (worshipped as a god-king)

King Menes— he unified Upper and Lower Egypt Unify means to unite into one.

Manetho a priest and an advisor who began to keep records Manetho divided the kings into different dynasties

Hatshepsut Hatshepsut was the daughter of a pharaoh who became a ruler of Egypt. She claimed that Ra was her real father.

a kingdom south of Egypt Nubia is now known as Sudan

Kush Kush was a kingdom of Nubia Amanirenas was Queen of Kushites (she led Kush into battle)

independent to be free

Akhenaten Egyptian ruler who changed his name from Amenhotep IV and called for the worship of one god, Aton

Meroe a capital city of Nubia

the capital of the African kingdom of Kush Napata the capital of the African kingdom of Kush

Thutmose III New Kingdom pharaoh who conquered Nubia and brought ancient Egypt to the height of its power

King of Kush who conquered Upper Egypt Kashta King of Kush who conquered Upper Egypt

Piankhi son of Kashta he conquered the rest of Egypt