cataracts
strong rapids or waterfalls
delta
a triangle-shaped area of land made of soil deposited by a river
pharaoh
title for the rulers of Egypt which means "great house
dynasty
series or group of rulers from the same family
Old Kingdom
period in Egyptian history from 2700 BC until 2200 BC
nobles
people from rich and powerful families
Khufu
pharaoh who ruled the Old Kingdom in 2500s BC
acquire
to get; for example, traders got incense and myrrh in Punt to trade for gold, ivory, slaves and stone from Nubia
afterlife
life after death
mummies
specially treated bodies wrapped in cloth
elite
people of wealth and power or royalty
method
a way of doing something such as embalming
pyramids
huge stone temples with four triangle-shaped walls with a point on top
engineering
the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
Middle Kingdom
a period of order and stability in Egyptian history that lasted from 2050 BC until about 1750 BC
New Kingdom
a period during which Egypt reached the height of its power and glory from about 1550 BC to 1050 BC
trade routes
the different paths followed by traders
Queen Hatshepsut
Egyptian ruler after her husband Thutmose II died and increased trade
Ramses the Great
Pharaoh in Egypt during the 1200s who had one of the longest ruling period or reign
contracts
a binding legal agreement that the Egyptian women had
hieroglyphics
Egyptian writing system consisting of picture symbols to represent sounds
Rosetta Stone
a stone slab inscribed or covered with hieroglyphics that had text in Greek and a later form of Egyptian
sphinxes
imaginary creatures with bodies of lions and heads of other animals or humans that lined the path leading to the entrance of temples
obelisk
a tall, four-sided pillar that is pointed on top
King Tut
short name for pharaoh Tutankhamen whose tomb was found in 1922
Piankhi
also known as "Piye" and a successful military leader in ancient Kush
trade network
a system of people in different lands who trade goods
merchants
traders who sold goods
exports
items such as gold, ivory, pottery, iron tools and animal skins sent out to other regions
imports
items such as fine jewelry or luxury items brought into a region from somewhere else
authority
power or influence
Queen Shanakhdakheto
First woman ruler of Kush from 170 BC to 150 BC
King Ezana
Aksum ruler whose army took over Kush in AD 350