Break the Code Egyptian Civilization

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1 Name: Class: World History Date:. Directions: Use this code to help you complete each sentence. Break the Code Egyptian Civilization A = 1 B = 2 C = 3 D = 4 E = 5 F = 6 G = 7 H = 8 I = 9 J = 10 K = 11 L = 12 M = 13 N = 14 O = 15 P = 16 Q = 17 R = 18 S = 19 T = 20 U = 21 V = 22 W = 23 X = 24 Y = 25 Z = 26 1) The most common of the many titles for ancient Egyptian monarchs; originally meant great house or palace ) High government official in ancient Egypt or in Muslim countries ) Family of rulers whose right to rule is passed on within the family ) These developed in ancient Egypt; administrative organization with officials and regular procedures ) Process of drying a dead body to prevent it from rotting ) Simplified version of earliest form of ancient Egyptian writing; used for business transactions, record keeping, and the general needs of daily life (2 words) / ) Earliest Egyptian writing; emerged around 3,000 B.C.; meant priest-carvings, or sacred writings ) Ancient Egyptian begins around 3100 B.C., when united Upper and Lower Egypt into a single kingdom, creating the first royal dynasty.

2 Name Date Class Enrichment Activity 2 The Seasons of the Nile Ancient civilizations developed near rivers. When the rivers flooded, they deposited rich silt on the land, making it good farmland. CHAPTER 2 The behavior of the Nile determined the seasons for farmers in ancient Egypt. There were really three seasons: inundation, receding waters, and drought. Inundation was the period during which the Nile flooded. Afterwards, the flood waters receded, withdrawing from the fields. Farmers plowed the land and planted their crops during this time. Drought was the dry period, when farmers harvested their crops. Knowing in advance how much the Nile would flood was an important role of government, and much of the kings power came from their ability to accurately predict the extent of the floods. Good flooding meant abundant harvests; a low flood could mean famine. As Egyptian civilization progressed, it became possible to move farther upstream to measure the source of flooding and to get earlier information on the extent of the year s flood. Egyptian farmers devised a series of dams, levees, and canals to control the flooding river. They built levees around villages to keep water out. They constructed earthen dams in fields after the flood to keep water in long enough to enrich the soil. They dug canals and then punctured the dams to allow water to flow into fields as needed. As a final method of irrigation, they carried water by hand to distant fields not reached by the floods. The value of land how heavily it was taxed was determined by its proximity to the river. Lowland fields that flooded naturally were the most prized. Those farther inland that needed to be flooded through irrigation were taxed at a lower rate. DIRECTIONS: Answer the questions below in the space provided. 1. What is the main idea of the selection? 2. From what you have read about Egyptian civilization, how necessary was an abundant labor force to prepare the fields for planting? 3. Why do you think kings derived their power from their ability to predict the flood? 4. Why do you think land closer to the river was more valuable? Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 5. From what you have read about Egyptian religion, briefly describe the role that water in general, and the Nile in particular, might have played in the religion of ancient Egypt. 82

3 Name Date Class Time Line Activity 2 Western Asia and Egypt DIRECTIONS: The ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt covered a period of 2,000 years. Use the time line below to complete the sentences or answer the questions that follow B.C. Menes unites Egypt B.C. Old Kingdom begins B.C. Sumerian cities emerge in southern Mesopotamia. C Sargon I assumes power in Akkad B.C. Old Kingdom ends B.C. Middle Kingdom begins B.C B.C B.C B.C. CHAPTER B.C. Middle Kingdom ends B.C. Hittites create empire B.C. New Kingdom begins B.C. Rule of Ramses II begins B.C. New Kingdom collapses. Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 1. The Old Kingdom began in and ended in. 2. Sargon I assumed power in Akkad in. 3. During which kingdom did Ramses II come to power? 4. King Menes united Egypt in. 5. Sumerian cities emerged in southern Mesopotamia around. 6. How many years did the Middle Kingdom last? 7. How many years are there between the beginning of the Old Kingdom and the beginning of the New Kingdom? 8. What happened between the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom? 9. How many years separate the rule of Menes from the rule of Ramses II? 73

Name: Class: World History Date: Isis, Osiris and the Egyptian Afterlife The people of ancient Egypt did not have scientific explanations for natural phenomena.

4 Name: Class: World History Date: Isis, Osiris and the Egyptian Afterlife The people of ancient Egypt did not have scientific explanations for natural phenomena. They believed sunshine and the great Nile River were gifts from their many gods. The beliefs of the ancient Egyptians slowly changed over time, but many of their legends influenced Egyptian culture for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians believed Ra was the sun god who came to earth as the first ruler of Egypt. Egypt became very rich during Ra s rule, but the people grew lazy and neglected to honor the sun god, so Ra used his magic to create a bloodthirsty lioness god named Sekhmet. Sekhmet reminded the Egyptian people of the power of Ra by terrorizing the Nile River Valley. When the Egyptian people showed their appreciation, Ra used magic to tame Sekhment and turn her into Hathor, the goddess of love. This lesson tells us the Egyptian people both valued and feared the sun. The sun made it possible for Egyptian crops to grow, but the sun could also turn good farmland into desert where no crops would grow. Ra s many children included Osiris and Isis, the brother and sister who ruled the Nile River Valley after they taught the Egyptians to farm and domesticate animals. The Egyptian people praised Osiris and Isis for the many gifts they bestowed on their civilization. Seth was their jealous brother and the god of storms. Seth invited all of the gods to a great party. Near the end of the feast, Seth brought in a beautiful cedar chest. "I will give this chest to whosoever fits in it most exactly!" The gods tried to fit into the box, but everyone was too big or too small. Seth had carefully measured his brother so that only he would fit in the chest space. Osiris was the last of the guests to lay down in the chest. I am the exact fit, so the chest is mine, cried Osiris and he climbed into the container. It is your chest and it is where you will be forever, replied Seth as he sealed the lid and cast the chest and Osiris into the Nile. Isis recovered her brother s body and returned it to Egypt. When Seth discovered what Isis had done, he ripped opened the chest, tore the body of Osiris into fourteen pieces, and scattered the pieces along the whole length of the Nile. The people of ancient Egypt believed that when their gods left this world they could live in an afterlife. The afterlife was a perfect version of ancient Egypt. In order to get to the afterlife, however, the gods first had to pass through the underworld. The underworld was a strange and dangerous place filled with fantastic and dangerous creatures. Traveling through the afterworld required the Egyptian gods to be very clever because they had to complete many tasks. The Egyptians believed that their gods could not reach the afterlife unless their bodies remained in one piece in Egypt. Isis knew the body of Osiris had to be intact and buried in Egyptian sand, so when she found the pieces of her brother, she buried Osiris in a secret place where Seth could not him. Horus was the son of Isis and the god of the sky. Horus took the form of a falcon and brought the sun with him each day as he flew across the sky. The eyes of Horus were said to be the sun and the moon, but the moon was not as bright because it was damaged by Seth in a great battle conflict. Horus subdued Seth, but he was never able to kill his uncle. This legend of Horus and Seth helps to explain why the Egyptians believed that they could never completely defeat evil and chaos. This worksheet was borrowed from MrDowling.com.

5 Name: Class: World History Date: Isis, Osiris and the Egyptian Afterlife Answer in complete sentences 1) Why do you think Ra was one of the most important of the Egyptian gods? 2) Why was it necessary for Isis to find and rebuild the body of Osiris? 3) How was the underworld different from the afterlife? 4) According to Egyptian mythology, why were the Egyptians never able to completely defeat evil and chaos? This worksheet was borrowed from MrDowling.com.

1: The Nile River Valley

1: The Nile River Valley In Nubia and Egypt, the Nile flows through the Sahara, a vast desert that stretches across most of northern Africa. Before reaching Egypt, the river in ancient times roared through