Chapter 3Ancient River Valley Civilizations

Introduction and Egyptian Civilization

VOCABULARY WORDS

1)Civilization-

2)Specialization- An agreement made within a group, members choose a certain activity/job and become skilled in ONLY that activity/job

3)Pictograms- Symbol for a word or phrase

4)Religion-

5) Artisan- skilled worker

6) Nile River- Main River of Egypt that was the source of

life

7)Irrigation- Supplying dry land with water by digging ditches that connect the farm to the river

8)Egyptian Delta Region – Triangular-shaped area of marshy flatland

where the Nile River met the Mediterranean Sea that provided

fertile silt deposits

9) Silt- Fine sand, clay or other material carried by running water

10) Cataracts- Rapids and waterfalls that serve as a natural barrier between

civilizations

11) Monotheistic- Belief in one God

12)Polytheistic- Belief in many Gods

13)Mummification – Religious ceremony that preserved the corpse

to prevent it from decaying in order to prepare the body

for the afterlife

14)Dynasty- Ruling family that lasts numerous generations

15)Scribes- Record Keepers

16)Hieroglyphics- Form of writing that uses pictures and symbols

17) Pharaoh- A ruler in Ancient Egypt that was considered a

God as well a political and military leader

18) Theocracy- A system of government where religious officials hold a significant amount of power

19)Old Kingdom- 1st major period of Ancient Egyptian history

considered the “Pyramid Age”

20)Middle Kingdom – 2nd major period of Ancient Egyptian history

considered the “Rise of the Empire “

21)New Kingdom- 3rd Major Period of Ancient Egyptian history that is considered “the Golden Age “

22)Pyramids- Monumental Structures that served as tombs for the Old Kingdom Pharaohs 23)Caravans- Group of merchants that traveled together for safety

24)Amon-Re- “The Sun King” that was considered the Central God of Egyptian culture 25)Subsidence Farming- Farming that provides only enough food for basic needs