Important Vocabulary Words to Know
Cataract
Definition: A descent of water over a steep surface; a waterfall.
Significance: There were many of them in the Nile river
Definition: A descent of water over a steep surface; a waterfall.
Significance: There were many of them in the Nile river
Linen
Definition: Cloth woven from flax.
Significance: They wore the linen, and wrapped mummies with them
Definition: Cloth woven from flax.
Significance: They wore the linen, and wrapped mummies with them
Papyrus (a)
Definition: A material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant, used in sheets throughout the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on and also used for making rope, sandals, and boats.
Significance: The scribes used it to write on and paint things. They could also make boats, which were important in the Nile river.
Definition: A material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant, used in sheets throughout the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on and also used for making rope, sandals, and boats.
Significance: The scribes used it to write on and paint things. They could also make boats, which were important in the Nile river.
Dynasty (b)
Definition: A line of hereditary rulers of a country.
Significance: They had dynasties for ruling.
Definition: A line of hereditary rulers of a country.
Significance: They had dynasties for ruling.
Step Pyramid
Definition: A pyramid that has steps on each layer.
Significance: There were pharaoh's buried in them, before the smooth pyramids came along.
Definition: A pyramid that has steps on each layer.
Significance: There were pharaoh's buried in them, before the smooth pyramids came along.
Ramses II
Definition: The third Egyptian pharaoh of the nineteenth dynasty.
Significance: He was a ruler and built a step pyramid
Definition: The third Egyptian pharaoh of the nineteenth dynasty.
Significance: He was a ruler and built a step pyramid
Delta
Definition: The area in Northern Egypt, where the Nile river drains into the Mediterranean Sea.
Significance: It's part of the Nile.
Definition: The area in Northern Egypt, where the Nile river drains into the Mediterranean Sea.
Significance: It's part of the Nile.
Red land, Black land(c)
Definition: The red land was the desert area of Egypt, and the black land was the area with fertile soil and it deposited silt.
Significance: People lived in those areas, probably more in the Black land, and pyramids were probably more in the Red land.
Definition: The red land was the desert area of Egypt, and the black land was the area with fertile soil and it deposited silt.
Significance: People lived in those areas, probably more in the Black land, and pyramids were probably more in the Red land.
Afterlife
Definition: A life believed to follow death
Significance: It was part of the Egyptian religion and part of the reason they gave food to the pharaoh's in pyramids and tombs.
Definition: A life believed to follow death
Significance: It was part of the Egyptian religion and part of the reason they gave food to the pharaoh's in pyramids and tombs.
Succession
Definition: The order of which royal members of a family inherit a throne or title.
Significance: It's how the pharaoh's succeeded each other and formed different dynasties.
Definition: The order of which royal members of a family inherit a throne or title.
Significance: It's how the pharaoh's succeeded each other and formed different dynasties.
Khufu
Definition: The Egyptian who, about 2550 B.C., ordered the construction of the largest pyramid ever built, called the Great Pyramid.
Significance: The Great Pyramid is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It also tells us a lot about Egypt.
Definition: The Egyptian who, about 2550 B.C., ordered the construction of the largest pyramid ever built, called the Great Pyramid.
Significance: The Great Pyramid is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It also tells us a lot about Egypt.
Silt
Definition: Fine, fertile soil deposited by a river.
Significance: It helped with agriculture, and was in the Black land.
Definition: Fine, fertile soil deposited by a river.
Significance: It helped with agriculture, and was in the Black land.
Scribe:
Definition: A person who specialized in writing and serves as a record keeper.
Significance: They kept records of Egypt, which tells us a lot about their way of life.
Definition: A person who specialized in writing and serves as a record keeper.
Significance: They kept records of Egypt, which tells us a lot about their way of life.
Embalm
Definition: To preserve a body after death.
Significance: There were pharaoh's embalmed inside pyramids and tombs. It was also part of the Egyptian religion.
Definition: To preserve a body after death.
Significance: There were pharaoh's embalmed inside pyramids and tombs. It was also part of the Egyptian religion.
Pharaoh
Definition: A king of ancient Egypt
Significance: Pharaoh's were the rulers of ancient Egypt, they led them in war, they built pyramids, and were thought to be like gods.
Definition: A king of ancient Egypt
Significance: Pharaoh's were the rulers of ancient Egypt, they led them in war, they built pyramids, and were thought to be like gods.
Hatshepsut
Definition: A female pharaoh of ancient Egypt, who initially ruled with her stepson, but declared herself the only ruler in 1472 B.C.
Significance: She broke the gender barrier and proved that girls could be powerful and great.
Definition: A female pharaoh of ancient Egypt, who initially ruled with her stepson, but declared herself the only ruler in 1472 B.C.
Significance: She broke the gender barrier and proved that girls could be powerful and great.
Fertile
Definition: Favorable for the growth of crops and other plants.
Significance: It was good for their growing and provided them with things like papyrus.
Definition: Favorable for the growth of crops and other plants.
Significance: It was good for their growing and provided them with things like papyrus.
Hieroglyph
Definition: a stylized picture of an object representing a word, syllable, or sound, as found in ancient Egyptian and other writing systems.
Significance: It was their form of writing and recording information that tells us most of their history
Definition: a stylized picture of an object representing a word, syllable, or sound, as found in ancient Egyptian and other writing systems.
Significance: It was their form of writing and recording information that tells us most of their history
Mummy
Definition: a body of a human being or animal that has been ceremonially preserved by removal of the internal organs, treatment with natron and resin, and wrapping in bandages.
Significance: It was how they preserved their pharaoh's and what they kept in pyramids and tombs.
Definition: a body of a human being or animal that has been ceremonially preserved by removal of the internal organs, treatment with natron and resin, and wrapping in bandages.
Significance: It was how they preserved their pharaoh's and what they kept in pyramids and tombs.
Pyramid
Definition: a monumental structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top.
Significance: It's where they kept their kings and where they thought (from religion) the pharaoh's would spend their afterlife
Definition: a monumental structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top.
Significance: It's where they kept their kings and where they thought (from religion) the pharaoh's would spend their afterlife
Obelisk
Definition: A stone pillar, typically having a square or rectangular cross section and pyramidal top.
Significance: Used for ornamental purposes in ancient Egypt
Definition: A stone pillar, typically having a square or rectangular cross section and pyramidal top.
Significance: Used for ornamental purposes in ancient Egypt