Name _____________________________________________________________________
Basic _____________
Unit 2 Vocabulary: ANCIENT EGYPT/NEAR EAST
1) Topography: the shape of the land; the surface features of a place or region, such as
mountains or deserts
2) Vegetation: the plants of a place or region
3) Delta: an area of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river
4) Fertilization: the process of adding fertilizer, or plant food, to soil
5) Silt: rich soil along the riverbanks of the Nile after it flooded
6) Papyrus: a tough water plant used to make paper and rope in ancient times
7) Nomad: a person who moves from place to place with no permanent home
8) Egyptian Civilization: a society of people who lived in the northeast corner of Africa from
around 3100 BCE – 350 CE
9) Pharaoh: an ancient Egyptian leader
10) Old Kingdom: a period in ancient Egyptian history that lasted from about 2700 – 2200
BCE
11) Middle Kingdom: a period in ancient Egyptian history that lasted from about 2000 – 1800
BCE
12) New Kingdom: a period in ancient Egyptian history that lasted from about 1600 – 1100
BCE
13) Pyramid: a huge, triangular-shaped monument of ancient Egypt built around a tomb
14) Social Class: a group in society distinguished from other groups by such things as wealth,
property, and rights
15) Social Pyramid: a drawing of a pyramid-shape with levels showing how social classes are
positioned above and below one another regarding power and rights in the society
16) Artisan: a craftsperson
17) Peasant: a person who does farm work for wealthy landowners
18) Scribes: people who made written records of important happenings
19) Vizier: a high-ranking government official
20) Alliance: an agreement between nations to work together for common interests
21) Sanctuary: holy rooms in temples where statues of gods were housed
22) Embalm: to treat a dead body with preservatives to prevent it from decaying
23) Sarcophagus: a large stone coffin
24) Hieroglyphics: a system of writing developed in Egypt around 3000 BCE
25) Hieroglyph: a symbol used in hieroglyphics
26) Census: an official count of the population or number of people living in an area
27) Famine: a severe shortage of food
28) Kush Civilization: a society of people who lived along the Nile, south of Egypt in Nubia,
from about 2000 BCE – 350 CE
29) Archer: a person who shoots with a bow and arrow
30) Dynasty: a family or group that rules for several generations
31) Kandake: a powerful female leader who co-ruled Kush with her husband and sons
32) Treaty: a written agreement by which two or more states agree to be peaceful
33) Hebrew Civilization: a society of people (ancient Israelites) who lived to the northeast of
Egypt, in Canaan, from about 1800 BCE – 70 CE
34) Judaism: a major world religion that was founded by the Hebrews
35) Torah: “God’s teaching”; the first five books of the Jewish Bible
36) Covenant: an agreement or promise
37) Descendant: a daughter or son, granddaughter or grandson, etc.
38) Sacrifice: a gift or an animal for slaughter as a way to honor the gods
39) Prophet: a person who speaks or interprets for God to other people
40) Plague: a terrible disaster affecting many people and thought to be sent by God as a
punishment
41) Exodus: “departure”; the escape of the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery
42) Ten Commandments: the ten laws said to be given to Moses by God
43) Sabbath: the seventh day of the week to be used for rest and worship according to one
of the Ten Commandments
44) Moral Law: rules about the right way to live
45) Ark of the Covenant: the chest containing the stone tablets with Ten Commandments
written on them, that the Hebrews carried with them during their wanderings after their
flight from Egypt
46) Jewish Diaspora: the scattering of the Jewish people to many lands
47) Jewish Beliefs: the basis of Judaism, such as the belief in one God and the importance of
following the Ten Commandments
48) Monotheism: the belief that there is only one God
49) Rabbi: a religious teacher who studies and teaches others about Jewish law
50) Talmud: the collection of ancient Jewish writings that interpret the law of the Torah
51) Execute: to kill
52) Gentile: non-Jewish
53) Synagogue: a place of Jewish worship