Ancient Egypt Vocabulary: Answer Key
Section 1
1. cataracts (p. 87): a set of rapids along a river, such as those along the Nile in Egypt
2. delta (p. 87): a triangle-shaped area of land made from soil deposited by a river
3. Menes (p. 89): an Egyptian ruler who united Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt; considered by
historians to be Egypt’s first pharaoh
4. pharaoh (p. 89): the title used by the rulers of Egypt
5. dynasty (p. 89): a series of rulers from the same family
Section 2
6. Old Kingdom (p. 90): the period from about 2700 to 2200 BC in Egyptian history that began
shortly after Egypt was unified
7. Khufu (p. 91): a famous pharaoh of the Old Kingdom who ruled in the 2500s BC; best known
for the Great Pyramid near Giza that was built as his burial monument
8. nobles (p. 91): a rich and powerful person
9. afterlife (p. 92): life after death
10. mummies (p. 93): a specially treated body wrapped in cloth for preservation
11. elite (p. 93): people of wealth and power
12. pyramids (p. 94): a huge triangular tomb built by the Egyptians and other peoples
13. engineering (p. 94): the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
Section 3
14. Middle Kingdom (p. 96): the period of Egyptian history from about 2050 to 1750 BC;
marked by order and stability
15. New Kingdom (p. 97): the period from about 1550 to 1050 BC in Egyptian history when
Egypt reached the height of its power and glory
16. trade routes (p. 97): a path followed by traders
17. Queen Hatshepsut (p. 98): an Egyptian queen who worked to increase Egyptian trade;
known for the many impressive monuments and temples built during her reign
18. Ramses the Great (p. 98): an Egyptian pharaoh who fought the Hittites in the 1200s BC,
defended Egypt from invaders, and strengthened Egypt's western frontier
Section 4
19. hieroglyphics (p. 102): the ancient Egyptian writing system that used picture symbols
20. papyrus (p. 102): a long-lasting, paper-like material made from reeds that the ancient
Egyptians used to write on
21. Rosetta Stone (p.103): a huge stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics, Greek, and a later
form of Egyptian that allowed historians to understand Egyptian writing
22. sphinxes (p. 104): an imaginary creature with a human head and the body of a lion that was
often shown on Egyptian statues
23. obelisk (p. 104): a tall, pointed, four-sided pillar in ancient Egypt
24. King Tutankhamen (p. 106): an Egyptian pharaoh whose tomb filled with treasures was
discovered by archaeologists in 1922
Section 5
25. Piankhi (p. 110): a very religious Kushite king who believed he was supported by the gods;
conquered many Egyptian cities and extended the Kushite empire into Egypt
26. trade network (p. 111): a system of people in different lands who trade goods back and forth
27. merchants (p. 111): trader
28. exports (p. 111): items sent to other regions for trade
29. imports (p. 111): goods brought in from other regions
30. Queen Shanakhdakheto (p. 113): a Kushite queen who may have been the first woman to
rule Kush by herself
31. King Ezana (p. 113): a king of Aksum who destroyed Meröe and conquered the kingdom of
Kush in AD 350