B7 - Lesson 12 - Ancient Egypt

B7 - Lesson 12 - Ancient Egypt

Text Comprehension Activity

Attention:

You will read a text about Ancient Egypt and answer some questions about it. Try to retain as much information as possible while reading.

Ancient Egypt

Over 30,000 years before Christ (B.C.), there were people who lived along the Nile River, a region which we now call Ancient Egypt.

Around 5000 B.C., those people formed two kingdoms: Lower Egypt in the northern region and Upper Egypt in the southern region.

Around 3100 B.C., King Narmer, also called Menes, unified the two kingdoms and founded Memphis, a new capital city right in the middle of the two regions.

Historians divide Ancient Egypt's history in time periods. Next, there are some important facts and interesting information about each period.

Multiple Choice

1. What was King Narmer's other name?

• Memphis

• Memes

• Menes

The Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period (3100-2040 B.C.) This period is also known as the Age of Pyramids.

• The pyramids were built. They were tombs for the pharaohs.

• The Great Sphinx sculpture was made. It had the body of a lion and the head of a person.

• Egyptians created the 365-day solar calendar that we still use today.

Multiple Choice

2. Which period were the pyramids built in?

• The Middle Kingdom and the Second Intermediate Period (2040-1500 B.C.)

• The New Kingdom (1500-1070 B.C.)

• The Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period (3100-2040 B.C.)

Multiple Choice

3. Was the Great Sphinx a pyramid? Describe it.

• Yes, it was. It had the body of a lion and the head of a

  person.

• No, it wasn't. It had the body of a lion and the head of a person.

• No, it wasn't. It had the body of a person and the head of a lion.

Multiple Choice

4. What kind of calendar did the Egyptians create?

• 365-day solar calendar

• 354-day lunar calendar

• 360-day commercial calendar

The Middle Kingdom and the Second Intermediate Period (2040-1500 B.C.)

• At first, Thebes was the capital city of Upper and Lower Egypt. Then, Pharaoh Amenhemhet I built a new capital city just south of Memphis.

• The Hycsos, people from Asia, invaded Egypt and stayed there for about a hundred years.

Multiple Choice

5. How long did the Hycsos stay in Egypt?

• for about a hundred and fifty years

• for about a hundred years

• for about a year

The New Kingdom (1500-1070 B.C.)

• Hatshepsut became the first woman to be a pharaoh.

• Egyptians worshipped many gods. In 1352 B.C. Pharaoh Akhenaten tried to get Egyptians to worship only one god.

• When Akhenaten died, his wife Nefertiti became pharaoh.

• In 1336 B.C., Tutankhamen, who was only 8 years old, became pharaoh. Egyptians went back to their old religion and worshipped many gods and goddesses.

• In 1297 B.C. Ramses II became pharaoh. He was considered the greatest ruler of Egypt. He had hundreds of wives and children.

Multiple Choice

6. Who was the first female pharaoh?

• Cleopatra

• Nefertiti

• Hatshepsut

Multiple Choice

7. Which pharaoh tried to change Egyptian religion?

• Pharaoh Akhenaten

• Pharaoh Tutankhamen

• Pharaoh Ramses II

Multiple Choice

8. How old was Tutankhamen when he became a pharaoh?

• 7 years old

• 8 years old

• 9 years old

Multiple Choice

9. How many wives and children did Ramses II have?

• He had hundreds of wives and children

• He had thousands of wives and children

• He had neither wives nor children.

The Decline of Egypt

• From 1070 B.C. on, Egypt was conquered by different people such as the Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Arabs.

• The famous Queen Cleopatra ruled from 51 to 30 B.C. She killed herself by putting her hand into a basket full of poisonous snakes.

Multiple Choice

10. How did Cleopatra die?

• by drinking poison

• by putting her hand into a basket full of poisonous snakes.

• by a scorpion sting