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AP World History/Geography: Chapter 3 Vocabulary Flashcards

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7310638831BantuAfrican peoples who originally lived in the area of present-day Nigeria and showed a great interest in migration; around 2000 B.C.E , they acted upon their interests and began a centuries-long migration that took them to most of sub-Saharan Africa; these people were very influential, especially linguistically.0
7310642770CataractsShallow lengths (or white water rapids) of the Nile River, between Aswan and Khartoum, where the surface of the water is broken by many small boulders and stones jutting out of the river bed, as well as many rocky islets.1
7310705398Demographic pressuresThis forced Egyptians in particular to develop more intense and sophisticated methods of agriculture. Cultivators moved beyond the Nile's immediate floodplains and began to grow crops on higher ground that required plowing and careful preparation. Overall, it is a broad term that relates back to pressures caused by population.2
7310736837Hieratic"priestly"- of or concerning priests3
7310751830HieroglyphicsThe ancient Egyptian written language that had pictographs with symbols as an abstract way of representing both sounds and ideas.4
7310754576HyskosInvaders who seized the Nile delta and helped bring an end to the Egyptian Middle Kingdom, and were known to be Semitic, horse-riding nomads. These specific peoples invaded the city of Memphis and out Egyptians through the Nile Delta, the delta formed in Northern Egypt where the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea.5
7487029862KingdomsThis term refers to a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen. Within ancient Egypt, this term revolves around the Old ____________ and New ____________. The Old ____________, also known as the Archaic Period, was accredited for the construction of massive pyramids. Pharaoh power was greatest during these times as well. In contrast to the New ____________, which was established after the invasion of the Hyksos, pharaohs governed a prosperous and productive society through agricultural surpluses, armies, elaborate bureaucracies, and the erection of culturally unique edifices. Imperialism also heightened around this time.6
7310757543MenesAn ambitious minor official from southern Egypt who founded the ancient city of Memphis and is accredited for unifying Egypt in 3100 B.C.E. through the buildings of a centralized state governed by pharaohs.7
7310770424MercenaryProfessional soldiers hired to serve in a foreign army, such as the Nubians into the Egyptian military.8
7310775865MeroiticRelating to or characteristic of the ancient city of Meroe, located in present-day Sudan, or its inhabitants or language. The language, specifically, was developed by Nubian scribes and was difficult to understand and decipher.9
7310785028MummificationA process the Egyptians used to preserve the bodies of the deceased. Steps included the removal of organs, the washing, sealing, and filling of the body with spices and aromatics, and the wrapping of the corpse in fine linen. Jewelry was adorned and the body was placed in an intricate and elaborate coffin with ornate, sculpted details.10
7310801418NubiansA member of one of the group of peoples that formed a powerful empire between Egypt and Ethiopia from the 6th to the 14th centuries.11
7310806185OsirisAncient Egyptian god that represented the forces of nature. This specific person became the god of the underworld after a series of miseries and unfortunate events from Seth- his evil brother. He is continually honored through religious cults and is known for having the power to determine who deserved immortality.12
7310807438PharaohEgyptian kings considered to be gods on earth.13
7310812148PyramidsEnduring symbols of pharaoh authority within the Archaic Period and Old Kingdom. These buildings were massive projects, requiring the service of approximately eighty-four thousand laborers and eighty working days per year, and housed the coffins of honorable figures within ancient Egypt, such as kings, queens, etc.14
7310825720SavannahThe outer edges of the Sahara made up of mostly flat grasslands15
7310831963ScribeA person who copies out documents, especially one employed to do this before printing was invented.16

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