Ancient Egypt Vocabulary Study Guide afterlife life after

Ancient Egypt: Vocabulary Study Guide

afterlife • life after death

cataract • a group of rocky rapids; waterfalls that break up a flow of a river

commerce • buying and selling of goods and services

delta • a delta is a triangular-shaped area of soil at the mouth of a river

desert • very dry, barren land without trees and little precipitation

drought • a long period of extremely dry weather

dynasty • a series of rulers from the same family

hieroglyphics • written symbols that stand for words, ideas, or sounds

linen • cloth made from the flax plant

Lower and Upper Egypt Lower Egypt = northern part of Egypt where the Nile Delta is located; downstream because the Nile flows to the north Upper Egypt = part of Egypt that lies to the south of Lower Egypt; upstream because the Nile River flows north

mouth of a river • end of a river that empties into another body of water

mummy • a body that has been preserved so it will not decompose

The Nile River Valley • a lower elevation of fertile land found by the Nile River

papyrus • a writing surface similar to paper; named after a reed that grew along the Nile River

pharaoh • king of Ancient Egypt

pyramid • structure with stone triangular sides; used as houses for the dead

silt • is a mixture of dark, rich soil and small rocks

source of a river • start of a river; where a river begins

unify • to unite or bring together