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Egypt Document Based Questions
Part 1 Directions: analyze each of the following primary and secondary sources from Mesopotamia.
Then answer the questions that follow on a separate sheet of paper.
Document 1: “Hymn of the Nile”
1. The hymn above was dedicated to the Nile River. Based on the hymn, why was the Nile so
important to Egyptians?
Document 2:
Source: Diagram of an Egyptian Pyramid
Pyramids were built as a final resting
place for the ka, or spirit, of the
pharaoh. The embalmed body of the
pharaoh was placed in a special room
within the pyramid. Also in the room
were gold, jewels, chariots, statues,
and other objects the pharaoh might
need in the afterlife. Pyramids were
built of huge blocks of stone that
were moved into place by groups of
peasants and other workers. The
government organized and directed
these armies of workers.
2. Based on the diagram, how did Egyptians feel about their Pharaohs (kings)?
3. What does this image tell you about the mathematical skills of Egyptians?
Document 3
4. Why was the Nile vital to the development and
success of Egypt?
Document 4
5. How did the Egyptians use the Nile to overcome their harsh environment?
Document 5
Egyptian hieroglyphs a formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians that combined
logographic and alphabetic elements. Egyptians used cursive hieroglyphs for religious literature on
papyrus and wood. They used this lettering to keep historical and economic records. Papyrus was
an early form of “paper.” It was made by weaving together reeds to make a surface that could be
written on.
6 How did hieroglyphic writing help Egyptians develop into a successful civilization
7. How were Egyptian hieroglyphics different from Mesopotamian Cuneiform?
Document 7
The Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1799 near the
village of Rosetta, in Egypt, by French troops. The
stone was the key to cracking the code of
hieroglyphics. On the top of the stone was a
message written in hieroglyphics. Underneath it
there was a translation written in simpler
hieroglyphics and the third translation was in Greek.
Since people could read Greek at the time, this
allowed historians to translate all hieroglyphics. The
code was finally cracked in 1812.
8. Why was the Rosetta Stone so important to understanding Egyptian culture?
Document 8
A common burial practice in Eypt was mummification. People of all classes planned their burials,
however only the very wealthy could afford extravagant burials inside of golden sarcoffoguses and in
pyramids. Egyptians believed in an afterlife- that the soul continued living after the body died. Royalty
and the wealthy would have had htemselves mummified. This was a pricess of preservation. After death,
the bodies were embalmed to prevent decomposition. Below is an excerpt from the historian Herodotus
about the mummification process and an immage of a mummified body.
“First, they draw out the brains through the nostrils with an iron hook… Then with a sharp stone they
make an incision in the side, and take out all the bowels.. Then, having filled the belly with pure myrrh,
cassia, and other perfumes, they sew it up again; and when they have done this they steep it in natron (a
mineral salt) leaving it under for 70 days… At the end of 70 days, they wash the corpse, and wrap the
whole body in bandages of waxen cloth. – Herodotus, the history of Herodotus
Part 2 Directions: Use at least 4 of the primary sources to support your answer to the following question.
Answer the question in 3-5 paragraphs.
1. How did the geography of Egypt affect its development? This can include the development of
their religion, infrastructure, trade network, writing, and inventions.