Name: __________________________________ Date: ___________ Period: ______
TEST REVIEW STUDY GUIDE – Ancient Egypt – Note sheet
Directions- Using your notes, textbook, and student presentations,
answer each of the following question using complete sentences.
I.
Section 1 The Nile River Valley
1. How did the geography of the Nile River valley lead to the growth
of civilization there?
The Egyptian civilization began in the fertile Nile river valley
because there were natural barriers that discouraged invasion such
as deserts, cataracts, large bodies of water, and the river’s marshy
delta.
2. What 2 Rivers meet to form the Nile? In what direction does the
Nile flow?
The Blue and White Niles meet to form the Nile. The Nile runs
NORTH.
3. Why is Egypt known as “the Gift of the Nile?” Provide at least 3
examples.
- Provided resources for Egypt, bathing, cooking, traveling,
trading, irrigation
- Enabled the glorious Egyptian civilization to be born
- Lasting legacies that are still studied and visited today
- Lasted 2,800 years
4. What is papyrus and how did Egyptian use it? Why is the Rosetta
Stone important?
Papyrus is a reed plant found along the Nile that was weaved
together to make a paper-like substance. The discovery of the
Rosetta stone unlicked the meaning of Egyptian Hieroglyphics
(writing).
5. Who united Upper and Lower Egypt? What was the significance
of his double crown? What are Egypt’s 3 periods known as?
Narmer (Menes) united Upper and Lower Egypt. His double crown
signified the unification of Egypt. Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom,
and New Kingdom are the 3 periods of Egyptian history.
6. Describe Egypt’s social class system.
Egyptian social class was highly structured and did not allow for
much movement. It consisted of an upper class (priests &
pharaohs), middle class (traders & artisans), and a lower class
(farmers & unskilled workers).
II.
Egypt’s Old Kingdom
1. Describe the role of an Egyptian pharaoh.
The pharaoh was seen as a god, the son of Re who had to be strong
in order to keep Egypt unified.
2. What does polytheistic mean? Who are Hapi? Osiris? Anubis?
Isis?
Polytheistic means believing in more than one god.
-Hapi: god of Nile
-Osiris: god of the dead
- Anubis: god of mummification and afterlife
-Isis: ruled over the dead with Osiris/ god of motherhood
3. Describe Egyptian’s belief in the afterlife. Include information
about the Book of the Dead, mummification, pyramids, and the
great pyramid. What did Egyptians learn from embalming bodies?
*** You should know this one VERY well!!! Refer to your outline
notes.
III.
The Egyptian Empire
1. What improvements did the Middle Kingdom rulers make?
The Middle Kingdom was a time of peace and prosperity with
advances in art and architecture.
2. When did Egypt reach the height of its power?
- during the New Kingdom
3. Why were each of the following rulers significant in Egyptian
history: Hatshepsut, Akhenaton (Amenahotep IV), Tutankhamen,
and Ramses II?
***Refer to your outline notes
4. Describe how Egypt declined in power.
Egypt had trouble keeping out invaders who had iron weapons and
the Assyrians took control in 670 B.C.
IV.
Kingdom of Kush
1. What was the original name of Kush?
Nubia
2. Napata or Meroe or both:
a. 1st capital of Kush - Napata
b. moved to be out of Assyrian reach- Meroe
c. copied temples, monuments, and pyramids of Egypt-Both
d. located in upper Egypt for trade- Napata
e. new capital of Kush- Meroe
f. Kashta and his son Piye took control- Napata
g. Learned secret of iron making from Assyrians and used it to
make tools and weapons- Napata