The Egyptian Civilization Question and Answer| ICSE Class 6

CHAPTER 4

A. Answer the following questions:

Question 1: Why is Egypt called the gift of the Nile?

Answer: The ancient Greek historian Herodotus called Egypt the “gift of the Nile” because, every year without fail, the river would overflow its banks, transforming the entire valley into a vast lake. When the waters receded, they left behind a deposit of black fertile soil along each bank. Crops grew easily in this soil, yielding rich harvests. The Nile provided water for irrigation, and the Egyptians built an elaborate network of canals, dams, dykes, and reservoirs to support large-scale agriculture. Additionally, the Nile served as a national highway and the main transportation channel, helping to develop trade with neighboring countries.

Question 2: How did the Egyptian desert help in the development of Egyptian culture and civilization?

Answer: The Egyptian desert played a crucial role in shaping the culture and civilization of ancient Egypt. It acted as a natural barrier, protecting the civilization from foreign invasions and allowing it to develop with minimal outside interference. This security enabled the Egyptians to focus on advancements in agriculture, trade, and governance.

Additionally, the desert contained valuable natural resources such as minerals, stones, and gold, which were used for building temples, statues, and jewelry. The dry climate of the desert also helped preserve monuments, writings, and even mummies, allowing modern historians to study ancient Egyptian history in detail. Despite its harsh conditions, the desert supported trade routes, such as the ones leading to Nubia and the Red Sea, facilitating commerce and cultural exchange.

Question 3: How many periods is the history of ancient Egypt divided into? Name them.

Answer: The history of ancient Egypt is divided into three periods:

1. The Old Kingdom (approximately 3000–2000 BCE)
2. The Middle Kingdom (approximately 2000–1700 BCE)
3. The New Kingdom (approximately 1600–1100 BCE)

Question 4: Name the three social classes of ancient Egypt. Mention the people who constituted each of these classes.

Answer: The Egyptians were divided into three distinct social classes:

• The Upper Class: This consisted of the royal family, rich landowners, high-ranking priests, government officials, and doctors.
• The Middle Class: This included merchants, manufacturers, craftsmen, and the lower clergy.
• The Lower Class: This mainly consisted of peasants. At the bottom of the social hierarchy were the slaves, who were primarily prisoners of war.

Question 5: Briefly describe the family life of the early Egyptians.

Answer: Families were close-knit groups. The relationship between husband, wife, and children was usually strong. The father was the head of the family, and women were treated with respect. Their property rights were protected, and they were considered nearly equal to men in the eyes of the law. Children enjoyed carefree and happy lives. Boys were sent to school, while girls stayed at home and learned household duties.

Question 6: State the main occupations of the ancient Egyptians. Discuss any two.

Answer: The main occupations of the ancient Egyptians included agriculture, domestication of animals, and art and craft.

1. Agriculture: The Egyptians’ chief occupation was farming. The fertile soil, abundant water from the Nile, and an extensive irrigation network enabled them to grow crops throughout the year. The main crops included wheat, barley, and millet. Vegetables and fruits such as dates, apples, peaches, and figs were also grown.
   
2. Domestication of Animals: The Egyptians domesticated animals for food, labor, and companionship. Pigs, cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, camels, dogs, and geese were commonly raised.
   

Question 7: What is a mummy? How was a body mummified?

Answer: A mummy is a dead body that has been preserved through embalming and wrapping in fine linen.

The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death, so they preserved their dead bodies carefully. To mummify a body, they embalmed it with spices and wrapped it in fine linen. Food, wine, clothes, furniture, jewelry, and weapons were also placed in the tombs to accompany the deceased in the afterlife.

Question 8: Why did the ancient Egyptians preserve their dead?

Answer: The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. They thought that after death, the soul would return to the body, so it was important to preserve the body to ensure a successful journey to the afterlife. To achieve this, they practiced mummification, which involved embalming the body with spices and wrapping it in linen. They also placed food, clothing, jewelry, and other belongings in the tomb, believing that the deceased would need them in the next world.

Question 9: Who were the pharaohs? Why were they treated like gods?

Answer: The pharaohs were the rulers of ancient Egypt. They were considered divine and believed to be the living representatives of the gods on Earth, particularly the god Horus. The Egyptians saw their pharaohs as intermediaries between the people and the gods, responsible for maintaining harmony and order in the kingdom. Because of this divine status, pharaohs were worshipped as gods during their reign and were often given elaborate burials to ensure their transition to the afterlife as deities.

Question 10: Write short notes on:

Egyptian Script: The Egyptians developed a form of writing called hieroglyphic script, also known as sacred writing. Initially, they used picture writing, where each picture represented a word. About 2000 picture signs have been found on ancient pyramids and temples. Later, they developed a simplified alphabet with 24 consonants and no vowels.

Egyptian Solar Calendar: The Egyptians introduced the world’s first solar calendar. They observed that the average time between two annual floods was 365 days. The year was divided into 12 months, each consisting of 30 days. The remaining five days were used for celebrating religious festivals.

Question 11: Discuss briefly the contributions of the ancient Egyptians in the following fields:

Medicine: The Egyptian mummies, prepared thousands of years ago, are still well preserved. This is evidence of their advanced knowledge of medicine and human anatomy. They are also credited with making the world’s first medical diagnoses.

Astronomy: The need to calculate the time of the annual flood led to the development of astronomy. The Egyptians were the first to create an instrument to observe the movements of stars and planets. They also invented the water clock to measure time at night.

Have look on the Study guide of The Mesopotamian Civilization

Read the essay Politeness Wins Many Battle Essay for Class 10

B. Fill in the blanks:

1. The Nile provided water for Egypt and also served as the national highway.
2. The king of Egypt was known as the pharaoh.
3. The father was the head of the family.
4. Egyptian women were treated with respect.
5. The staple diet of the ancient Egyptians consisted of wheat and beer.
6. Men and women wore dresses made of white linen.
7. Egyptian houses had small windows high up on the walls to keep out the sun and let in daylight.
8. The chief occupation of the ancient Egyptians was agriculture.
9. Two examples that prove the Egyptians were great builders are the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx.
10. Two important gods of the Egyptians were Ra and Osiris.

C: Match the following:

1. Sphinx – A mythological animal
2. Mummy – Preserved dead body
3. Pyramids – Tombs of ancient Egyptian kings
4. Papyrus – A kind of reed
5. Hieroglyphic – Ancient Egyptian script

D: State whether the following are true or false

1. The Greek historian Ptolemy called Egypt the gift of the Nile. → False (It was the Greek historian Herodotus who called Egypt the “Gift of the Nile.”)
2. Women were more or less equal to men in the eyes of the law. → True
3. Only the women in ancient Egypt wore jewelry. → False (Both men and women wore jewelry.)
4. The Egyptians followed the barter system. → True
5. The Egyptians developed a simplified alphabet that had 21 consonants and five vowels. → False (The Egyptian writing system, hieroglyphics, did not have a simplified alphabet like modern languages.)
6. The Egyptians invented the water clock to read the time at night. → True