Study Guide: Egypt and Kush

What was the geographic location and noteworthy

physical features of ancient Egypt ?

Egypt was the Gift of the Nile ( longest river in

world)located in NE Africa: had protective cataracts, and

a fertile deltaThe Nile flows south to

north

Nile floods on a regular cycle: upper Egypt in mid summer, lower

Egypt in fall

2/3 of farmland is in the delta area; desert

surrounds other land

Rich silted land from flood = black land, desert beyond river

valley = red land

River provided irrigation water, fish, sailing

Desert too harsh for enemies, Med Sea kept many away, cataracts stopped enemies from

south

How did ancient Egyptians manage to

become a civilization ?

Rich fertile land gave rise to farming, surplus,

diversification of labor, greater pop, control of river

water with canals; with larger population organized

govt developed and a shared and well developed culture

was seen.

Describe the two kingdoms that existed in Egypt before they

were a united Kingdom .

Upper ( southern) on west bank of Nile; white crown in

cone shape

Lower (northern) Northwest Delta; red

crown

What were the important cultural features of the Old Kingdom, Middle

Kingdom and New Kingdoms of ancient

Egypt ?

Old: govt developed pharaohs as both King and a god- he came to earth to manage Egypt for all the

gods

• Khfu best known because of monuments for him(pyramid)• Society: Pharoah, priests and govt officials (mostly nobles, rich and

powerful families)• Middle Class = scribes and craftspeople, lesser govt officials;Lower

Class – 80% people and mostly farmers – worked on pharaoh projects in off season. Slaves and servants

• Trade with Nubia and Suria – materials for building• Religion: all worship same gods, tons of them too, temples built and

they collected $ from worshippers and govt.– Pyramids as burial sites very important– Idea of afterlife important

Middle: time after a decline of pharaoh

power with nobles ruling but ineffectively –

pharaoh comes back into power; invaded by Hykos – they rule, but

Ahmose drives them out

New Kingdom: height of power

– Controlled invasion routes, built an empire ; extended from Euphraetes to Nubia – those neighboring send gifts to maintain good relations.

– Expanded trade– Queen Hatshepsut – trade and monuments

and temples– Invasions led to decline– Ramses the Great fought off many enemies– Labor: scribes, artisans, artists, architects,

merchants, traders, soldiers, farmers and peasants

Who were significant leaders of ancient Egypt

and what were their lasting legacies ?

•Khufu – pyramid•Hatsheput – increased trade•Ramses – fought invasions, massive monuments

Menes: unites Upper and Lower Egypt – from Upper; 1st Pharaoh, and first dynasty; extended

territory south

What were the religious beliefs and rituals of ancient Egyptians ?

• Many gods, afterlife• Ka must be preserved

What societal groups lived in ancient Egypt

and how were they employed ?

Scribes

• govt and temple records

B. Artisans, Artists, and Architects

– 1. sculptors builders, carpenters, jewelers• metalworkers and leatherworkers

– 2. statues, furniture, jewelry, pottery, shoes

– 3. architects designed temples and royal tombs• a. could become high govt officials

C. Merchants and Traders

– 1. few, accompanied by soldiers, scribes and• laborers

D. Soldiers

– 1. After Middle Kingdom wars E had professional• army

– 2. land as payment– 3. keep treasure captured in warj

E. Farmers and Other Peasants

– 1. bottom of social scale– 2. majority of pop– 3. crops as taxes to pharaoh to pay

for land use• a. pharaohs controlled all land in

kingdom

4. required for special duty too• a. soldier• b. projects• c. mining• d. paid in grain

• F. Slaves– 1. most equal to farmers– 2. convicted criminals– 3. pows– 4. projects, farms, workshops , households– 5. had some rights and could earn

freedom • in some cases

What were the most memorable achievements

of ancient Egyptians ?

• Arch• Hieroglyphics• Papyrus• Books and histories written• Temples, sphinx• Painting – profile and straight on• Carvings and jewelry

What led to the decline of ancient Egyptian

civilization ?

• Over taxing, invasions, not connected enough to all in empire

What were the similarities of Kush and Egypt ?

• Located along a river whose flood brought silt and fertile land to farm ( Nile)

• Cataracts were natural barrier• Rose from farming villages• Diversification of labor

What were the political, commercial and cultural relations

interactions and influences between Kush and Egypt ?

• Kush supplied slaves and raw materials to Egypt

• Egypt controls when Thumose invades• Kush then controls Egypt – but reestablishes

much of Egyptian culture• Kush defeated by Assyrians in Egypt• Kush rebuilt own civilization built iron

industry, expanded trade, very much in Egyptian stlye ; resources declined, trade weakened, military weakened lead to decline

Cataracts = rapids

Vocabulary

Delta = triangular shaped land from

deposited river soil

Menes = 1st pharaoh, dynasty, united Egypt

Pharaoh = god king

Dynasty = series of rulers from same

dynasty

Old Kingdom – 3rd period dynasty rise

Khufu – famous new kingdom pharoah

Nobles –rich and powerful

Afterlife – life after death

Mummies – specially treated bodies after embalmment; linen

wrapped

Elite –people of wealth and power

Pyramids – 4sided burial tombs

Engineering –science for practical matters

Middle Kingdom – after New Ahmose King

New Kingdom – period of greatest achievement

Trade routes – paths of traders

Queen Hatshepsut – New Kingdom – many

public works

Ramses the Great – great military leader

and King; New Kingdom

Hieroglyphics- writing system of ancient

Egypt

Papyrus – paper in ancient Egypt from

plant fiber

Rosetta Stone- discovery that

unlocked key to hieroglyphics

Sphinxes – body of lion and heads of animals or human

temple

Obelisk -4 sided pillar on side on monuments

King Tutakhamen – discovered tomb of the

boy king