Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations Vocabulary
Matt Smith, Joe Lohuis, and Nancy Kammerer
Mummification: The process of a living or dead body being preserved by deliberate embalming
or unusual conditions. This process was used most famously by the Ancient Egyptians, who would
embalm emperors and other important societal members.
Pyramids: Huge pyramid structures that were used as tombs for emperors or important societal
members, there are over 100 in Egypt. Some of these pyramids had devices used to trap tomb raiders.
Hieroglyphics: One of the earliest forms of writing, the Ancient Egyptians had two forms,
although one weren’t technically Hieroglyphs. The other form, the Cursive Hieroglyphs, was used for
religious purposes, which is why they’ve been found inside the tombs of Emperors.
Archaic Period: This period began when the kingdoms of Lower and Upper Egypt united. The
Egyptian Pharaohs had the most power during this period, and launched 5 military operations in
between 3100 and 2600 B.C.E.
Old Kingdom: The first of three “Kingdom” periods that marked high points in Ancient Egypt’s
history. The capital during this time was Memphis, and it is most commonly known as the time that the
pyramids were constructed.
Middle Kingdom: The relatively shortest period of the Kingdom trio, it defines the time of the
11 and 12th dynasties. During the 11th dynasty, most of Egypt was under one rule, which brought
conflict among the Thebeans and the former rulers of the 10th dynasty.
th
New Kingdom: Period in ancient Egyptian history between the 16th and 17th century B.C.E. It
covered the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties of Egypt
Horus: Was the God of Ancient Egyptian religion, most commonly known by the Greek version
Horus. He was an important deity and was the Egyptian symbol of power
Amon-Re: Ancient Egyptian sun god who became a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion
Osiris: Is Egyptian god of life, death, and fertility. One of the oldest gods that records have
been found for
Pyramid of Khufu: Also called the Great Pyramid of Giza, is the oldest of the three largest
pyramids in the Giza Necropolis. It’s also the only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World
Hykso: Were an Asiatic people who invaded the eastern Nile Delta, initiating the Second
Intermediate Period of Ancient Egypt
Menes- Took control of Egypt from the south. Was pharaoh of Egypt in 3100 BCE who unified
Egypt and created a centralized government. He built the city of Memphis.
Ahmosis- founded the dynasty which started the New Kingdom c. 1500 BCE. During his reign he
ended the presence of Hyksos who were frequently invading Egypt.
Tuthmosis III- Pharaoh during New Kingdom (reigned 1479-1425 BCE) He led many military
campaigns to Palestine and Syria. During his reign he helped Egypt to control the Eastern Mediterranean
and North Africa.
Hatshepsut- Queen Hatshepsut was the most prominent woman to ever succeed in
government. Women in power were very rare and so in depictions of Hatshepsut she is shown with a
beard to appear less offensive.
Harkfuh - Governor of Upper Egypt and an explorer. His explorations took him to Nubia around
2300 BCE. He brought back caravans of exotic goods from Africa. His autobiography is one of the most
famous from the Old Kingdom.
Akhenaton – Pharaoh who changed his name to Akhenaton to honor his favorite god Aten. He
told his people to worship only Aten and even chisel the names of other gods out of the temples. In this
manner he introduced a kind of monotheism into Egypt which had previously been strictly polytheistic.
With his death the memory of Aten and Akhenaton was erased almost completely.
Social
Political
Religion
Intellectual
Technological
Economic
Egyptian Kings
and noble classes
Egyptians ruled
by Kings with no
opposition
Egyptians had
many gods, but
Akhenaton
introduced
monotheism to
the Sun God Ra
Discovered
mummification
Egyptians had
horse drawn
chariots
Climate change
forced the
Egyptians and
the Bantu to the
Nile River
Nubian Slave
population
Bantu were a
migratory society
In Bantu society,
people were
grouped by age
rather than
wealth
Time period
divided up into 3
Kingdom
periods, old
middle and new
Had female
rulers, including
Queen
Hatshepsut
Egyptians had
strong military
presence in
Syria, Palestine,
North Africa and
Nubia
Prepared dead
people for the
afterlife by
embalming if
they could afford
it
Bantu people
were
monotheistic
Had two
different
hieroglyphic
systems
Built the
Pyramids
Bantu spoke
several
languages
Nubian
recordings
unreadable
Bantu people
developed
Metallurgy, with
a large focus on
bronze weapons
Bantu people
also developed
canoes for
traveling along
the Nile
Egyptians
developed a
good currency
system
Economy
allowed longdistance trading
with Africa and
India
The Bantus’ main
agricultural crops
were yams and
bananas