| A | B |
|---|
| cataracts | rapids (rough water that makes sailing very difficult) |
| delta | triangle-shaped area of land made from soil deposited by a river |
| Menes | king of Upper Egypt who unified the kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt and is considered to be Egypt’s first pharaoh |
| pharaoh | title used by rulers of Egypt |
| dynasty | series of rulers from the same family |
| Old Kingdom | 500 year period in ancient Egyptian history when Egyptians continued to develop their political system based on the belief that the pharaoh was both a king and a god |
| Khufu | most famous pharaoh of the Old Kingdom who is best known for monuments built in honor of him, including his pyramid at Giza |
| nobles | people from rich and powerful families who were part of the upper class in Egyptian society - many nobles were priests and key government officials |
| afterlife | life after death; much of Egyptian religion focused on this |
| mummies | specially treated bodies wrapped in cloth in order to preserve the body for the afterlife |
| elite | people of wealth and power |
| pyramids | huge, stone tombs with four triangle-shaped sides that meet at a point on top |
| engineering | application of knowledge for practical purposes |
| Middle Kingdom | period of order and stability which lasted to about 1750 BC |
| New Kingdom | period during which Egypt reached the height of its power and glory and established an empire |
| trade routes | paths followed by traders |
| Queen Hatshepsut | female pharaoh during the New Kingdom who worked to increase trade |
| Ramses the Great | pharaoh during the New Kingdom who was gifted in military tactics |
| hieroglyphics | ancient Egyptian system of writing |
| papyrus | long-lasting, paper-like material made from reeds |
| Rosetta Stone | huge stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics and Greek that became the key for translating hieroglyphics |
| sphinxes | imaginary creatures with the bodies of lions and the heads of other animals or humans |
| obelisk | tall, four-sided pillar that is pointed on top |
| King Tutankhamen | boy pharaoh whose tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter; the tomb contained many artifacts that helped us learn about the lives of the ancient Egyptians |
