| A | B |
|---|
| Egypt | A civilization along the Nile River; began approx. 6,000 - 5,000 B.C. |
| Nile River | The source of water that allowed for the development of the Egyptian civilization |
| cataracts | rapids |
| delta | mouth of a river where the river valley broadens and holds rich top soil |
| Sahara | largest desert in the world, located in North Africa (includes Egypt) |
| papyrus | a reed plant used to make baskets, sandals and paper; a valuable resource for the Egyptians |
| hieroglyphics | Egyptian form of writing; picture symbols |
| Narmer | Egyptian leader responsible for combining Upper and Lower Egypt in about 3100 B.C.; also known as Menes |
| dynasty | hereditary line of rulers coming from a single family |
| pharaohs | Egyptian kings; originally meant "great house" |
| deities | gods and/or goddesses |
| embalming | process of protecting and preserving a pharaoh's body |
| mummy | the cleaning and wrapping in linen of the pharaoh's body to preserve it |
| pyramids | giant structures; protected a pharaoh's body from floods, animals, and grave robbers |
| King Khufu | Egyptian king for which the Great Pyramid was built |
| Giza | home of the Great Pyramid, 10 miles from present-day Cairo; on the west side of the Nile |
| Thebes | Capital city of the Middle Kingdom, south of Memphis, on the Nile |
| Ahmose | Egyptian leader; Led revolt against Hyksos, a group who occupied Egypt for 150 years |
| Hatshepsut | First woman ruler (Queen) of Egypt |
| Thutmose III | Egyptian pharaoh who began a conquest which expanded Egypt’s rule all the way to Mesopotamia |
| Akmenaton | "Spirit of Aton”; religious reformer who changed name from Amenahotep; didn't respond to attacks from Hittites; lost much Egyptian land to conquest |
| Tutankhamen | “The boy King”; tomb was opened in 1922 |
| Ramses II | Ruled from about 1279 to 1213 B.C.; regained territory; built great temples, but empire fell by about 1150 B.C. |
| Tribute | forced payments |
| Incense | material burned for its pleasant smell; a valuable material |
| Nubia | Region south of Egypt in northeastern Africa |
| Kush | Area that was originally known as Nubia |
| Savannas | grassy plains |
| Kerma | A kingdom of the Kush that developed close ties with Egypt |
| Napata | A city of the Kush that gained power when the Egyptian New Kingdom went into decline |
| Kashta | Kushite king who began the conquest of Egypt (750 B.C.) |
| Piye | Kashta’s son who completed the military conquest of Egypt |
| Meroë | New capital city of Kush; was moved to keep it farther away from threatening Assyrians (540 B.C.) |
| Hapi | Ruler of the Nile River |
| Isis | Ruler of the dead (along with her husband) |
| Osiris | Ruler of the dead (along with his wife) |
