Chapter 4 Ancient Egypt

Ms. Smith8th Grade Social Studies

Chapter 4 Vocabulary

1. Delta – a fan-shaped area of fertile land where most ancient Egyptians lived.

2. Cataracts – shallow water rapids of the Nile River that protected the Egyptians from foreign invasion.

Chapter 4 Vocabulary

3. Shadoof – a machine that lifted water from the Nile and placed it in the basins.

4. Basin – Bowl shaped holes.

5. Menes (Narmer) – United Upper and Lower Egypt in about 3100 B.C.

Chapter 4 Vocabulary

6. Farming – the main occupation (job) of Ancient Egyptians.

7. Pharaoh – Ruler of Ancient Egypt. Was considered a ruler, priest, and a god. Center of Egyptian life. Ruled the Earth.

Chapter 4 Vocabulary

8. Pyramids – Great tombs built for Pharaoahs to protect them from floods, wild animals, and robbers.

9. Hapi – Egyptian river god.

10. Ra – Egyptian sun god.

Chapter 4 Vocabulary

11. Osiris – early Pharaoh who gave Egyptians laws and taught them farming. God of the harvest and eternal life.

12. Isis – wife of Osiris. Ruled over the dead.

13. Underworld – where all souls went after death.

Chapter 4 Vocabulary

14. Book of the Dead – special book that contained magic spells needed for life after death.

15. Embalming – process to preserve the bodies of the dead. At first, only pharaohs, but later others.