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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

economy = how people use and manage their resources

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

a kingdom south of Egypt Nubia is now known as Sudan

independent to be free

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

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