4.2 Egyptian Society

Egypt's first pharaoh

• established a democratic government
• changed Egypt's religion
• unified the people living along the Nile
• increased trade

Historians say that Menes founded the first dynasty. Dynasty means

• rulers chose their successors from government officials
• rulers passed down power to rule to their son or daughter
• rulers had no choice in who would rule after them
• people had to fight to become the next ruler

Which statement best explains the power of the pharaoh?

• The pharaohs were worshipped like the gods
• The pharaohs said that the gods wanted the pharaoh to have power
• The pharaohs were believed to be more powerful than the gods
• The pharaoh was not very powerful

The reign of Queen Hatshepsut and Ramses the Great have this is common:

• drought and famine
• war
• great building projects
• pyramids

Which group had the highest social status during the reign of the pharaohs?

• temple priests
• wealthy merchants
• government scribes
• soldiers

Government officials in ancient Egypt

• were usually from poor families but their hard work had paid off
• carried out the day to day business of the government
• were elected
• took care of the priests

True or False: The farmers built the pyramids and the temples.

• True
• False

Ancient Egyptians mummified the deceased to

• preserve bodies for research purposes
• to prevent decomposition
• to discourage the gods from taking their souls
• to preserve bodies for life in the underworld

Which statement best explains why the ancient Egyptians were buried with their prized possessions?

• They wanted their possessions to be available to them in the afterlife
• They wanted their possessions to impress the gods
• They wanted their possessions to help identify them
• They wanted their possessions to be preserved forever

Polytheism

• only existed in ancient Egypt
• is the worship of the sun god
• is the worship of many gods
• doesn't exist today