Ancient History: Egypt : Ancient History: Egypt

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Ancient History: Egypt

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Protodynastic Period (3100 3000 Bce)

Which of the following statements about the Ancient Egyptian numerical system is FALSE?

Possible Answers:

It utilized a base ten system

Addition and multiplication were possible but quite laborious to calculate

Its format was very simple and easy to visually represent.

It is the first documented numerical system to represent the number zero

It was hieroglyphic in structure

Correct answer:

It is the first documented numerical system to represent the number zero

Explanation:

The Ancient Egyptian numerical system first developed sometime around 3100 BCE and was in a continual state of evolution thereafter, until it fell out of use around 400 CE. It was hieroglyphic in nature, with each number represented and depicted in pictorial form, and relied upon a base ten system, in which symbols were designated in increments of ten. (For example, the symbol for the number one was a single stroke, number ten was represented by a cattle hobble, and one hundred was shown as a coil of rope.) The Ancient Egyptians had no concept of zero; in fact, they would not come to understand this numerical reality for many centuries. This knowledge was finally transmitted to Ancient Egypt sometime in the mid-eighteenth century BCE, through their frequent trade and travel contacts with Middle Eastern and Asian civilizations.

Example Question #8 : Protodynastic Period (3100 3000 Bce)

A mastaba is a particularly important type of early Ancient Egyptian architecture. Select the correct definition of a mastaba.

Possible Answers:

A special implement (similar to a rolling pin) used to form papyrus

A tomb constructed to resemble a house

A structure built using the repurposed ruins of a fallen pyramid

A high-ranking court official who acts as the pharaoh’s advisor

A religious officer who specifically ministered to the dead and dying

Correct answer:

A tomb constructed to resemble a house

Explanation:

A mastaba is a special type of tomb, in use for centuries throughout Ancient Egyptian history by pharaohs, royal family members, and aristocrats alike. Mastabas were not just simple tombs; rather, they were constructed with a very particular goal in mind: to serve as a house for the deceased person’s spirit. Mastabas had two structural components: an above-ground superstructure (usually shaped like a bench) and a massive underground substructure where the deceased would live. Accordingly, the underground sections of a mastaba would be filled with all the various goods and possessions (such as food, drink, clothing, and furniture) that any individual would need to survive in the afterlife. Later on, once pyramids became more popular, several mastabas would be built in groups, to form a royal court, around a pharaoh’s pyramid, so that his family and friends could surround him during the afterlife.

Example Question #5 : Protodynastic Period (3100 3000 Bce)

In ancient Egyptian art, women are usually depicted __________.

Possible Answers:

in the act of childbirth

as small children

with round, pregnant stomachs

as young and fertile

as elderly and infirm

Correct answer:

as young and fertile

Explanation:

In ancient Egyptian art, women are almost universally depicted as young and fertile. Women’s hips are heavily emphasized - to demonstrate the importance of women’s role in childbirth. Unlike men, women were never depicted beyond child bearing age. This may be understood as part of society’s desire to highlight the reproductive role of women.

Example Question #41 : Ancient History: Egypt

To the ancient Egyptians, sport and games were generally __________.

Possible Answers:

part of a pre-ordained, ritual process

discouraged, because they were a distraction from duty

discouraged, because they led to serious injury

encouraged, because they kept people relaxed and fostered communal harmony

encouraged, because they kept people fit and healthy and battle-ready

Correct answer:

part of a pre-ordained, ritual process

Explanation:

To the ancient Egyptians, sport and games were generally part of a pre-ordained, ritual process. That is to say, the winner was predetermined and the sports (like boxing and wrestling) were actual ritual bouts between a good side “Egypt; a benevolent God” and a bad side “Egypt’s enemies; a malevolent God.”

Example Question #42 : Ancient History: Egypt

“Negative Confessions” were part of __________.

Possible Answers:

ritual worship during the First Intermediate Period

the judgment of the dead

the Egyptian judicial system during the Middle Kingdom

the creation story of Hermopolis

temple life during the New Kingdom and later

Correct answer:

the judgment of the dead

Explanation:

“Negative Confessions” were part of the judgment of the dead in Egyptian theology. The ancient Egyptians believed that a deceased individual had to first pass the judgment of Osiris before moving on to the afterlife. This was generally understood as a sort of trial, whereby an individual had to first deny a series of accusations of wrongdoing (“negative confessions”) and then had to pass the weighing of the heart.

Example Question #13 : Protodynastic Period (3100 3000 Bce)

In Egyptian iconography, the “Nine Bows” represent  __________.

Possible Answers:

the various incarnations of Pharaonic power

the chief Gods of the Ogdoad

the chief Gods of the Ennead

the various incarnations of the Sun God

Egypt’s enemies

Correct answer:

Egypt’s enemies

Explanation:

Iconography was extremely important in Egyptian culture. It was used to promote uniformity of religious belief and adherence to the rule of the Pharaoh. One such example is the “Nine Bows.” The “Nine Bows” were meant to represent the various enemies of Egypt and were always shown under the power of the Pharaoh’s might. There is no concrete list of the “Nine Bows” and the nations they represented obviously changed throughout Egyptian history as Egypt developed new enemies.

Example Question #43 : Ancient History: Egypt

What is the name of the artifact shown in the given image? 

Possible Answers:

The Hierakonpolis Stela 

The Palette of Zoser

The Palette of Hatshepsut 

The Palette of Narmer

None of these

Correct answer:

The Palette of Narmer

Explanation:

The Palette of Narmer or the Great Hierakonpolis Palette represents an archaeologically excavated artifact with iconographic depictions of the early pharaoh Narmer and several gods/divine beings.

Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palette_de_Narmer.jpg

Example Question #44 : Ancient History: Egypt

Which of these is the closest approximation of Bennu in Egyptian mythology?

Possible Answers:

a phoenix

an angel

a harpy

a crocodile

a dragon

Correct answer:

a phoenix

Explanation:

In Egyptian mythology, Bennu (or Benu) was a legendary phoenix type creature. It was worshipped by some ancient Egyptians as early as the beginning of the dynastic era. The Bennu was thought to have helped create the world and was sometimes viewed as an incarnation of Ra or Atum. The Egyptians believed that Benu sat atop the benben (the location of the “primordial hill of creation” where the world was born) and that he controlled the constant process of rebirth at the heart of the cosmic cycle.

Example Question #45 : Ancient History: Egypt

Which of these is an important component of Egyptian iconography, designed to project the power of the Pharaoh over Egypt’s enemies?

Possible Answers:

“The Eye of Osiris”

“The Smiting Scene”

“The Scarab”

“The Solar Eclipse”

“The Setting Sun”

Correct answer:

“The Smiting Scene”

Explanation:

“The Smiting Scene” is a powerful component of Egyptian iconography and is commonly found throughout ancient Egyptian dynastic history. “The Smiting Scene” depicts the Pharaoh smiting his enemies and was meant to project Pharaonic power, rather than accurately depict historical events.

Example Question #46 : Ancient History: Egypt

For what purpose did ancient Egyptians break red pots?

Possible Answers:

to encourage the inundation of the Nile

to provide protection from disease

to ward off evil spirits

to curse other people

to gain fortune in business transactions

Correct answer:

to ward off evil spirits

Explanation:

The Egyptians believed in ritual and superstition. The ritual destruction of red pots, for example, was believed to protect the tomb of a deceased ruler and to ward off evil spirits.

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