2.3 Expanding a young empire

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

AGE 2. The Time of Greeks and Romans

2.3 Expanding a young empire

What is this lesson about?

Ancient Egypt was led by a powerful king. The Egyptians called him pharaoh and they saw him as a living god. He was at the top of the social pyramid, but he needed civil servants and priests to help him rule the country. Some pharaohs led their armies in battles and expanded the influence of their country throughout the Middle East.

What you can explain /  do after this lesson

• that Egypt was ruled by a pharaoh and that he was like a god to the Egyptian people
• draw a social pyramid of ancient Egypt

Word Duty

Propaganda: way of trying to convince others of your opinion and appear that you are better than you actually are

Lower Egypt: the northern part of Egypt

Delta: when a river flows into the sea, it spreads into smaller rivers to form islands and wetlands

Upper Egypt: the southern part of Egypt; this area is called ‘upper’ because the land is higher

Dynasty: line of rulers from the same family

Subjects: people who live in a country ruled by a king

Social pyramid: graph to show the differences in power, wealth and/or influence in a country

Laws: system of rules

Taxes: money or goods that people must pay to the king or government

Link to WRTS wordlist for all the other difficult words: WRTS HISTORY

KEY WORDS

TIMELINE of this CHAPTER

Read "The greatest pharaoh?"

a.
The text mentions three reasons why some historians give Ramesses
the title ‘the Great’ . Which of these is NOT a reason?

1. because he built many temples
2. because he was 90 years old when he died
3. because he ruled his country for sixty-seven years
4. because he conquered other lands

Why would Ramesses II want to make people believe that he was important?

1. so people believed he was a real god
2. so people were more willing to follow him
3. so people loved him more
4. so people respected him more

Drag the words to the correct place in the map

Nile

Upper Egypt

desert

Delta

Lower Egypt

Which of the following statements is correct?

1. Upper Egypt lies in a mountain area so it is higher.
2.Lower Egypt is the part of Egypt where the river runs into the
sea as a delta. These areas are mostly low and swampy areas.

1. Only 1 is correct
2. only 2 is correct
3. both 1 and 2 are correct
4. both 1 and 2 are incorrect

Who was the first pharaoh of Egypt?

(write down his name)

Look at the Timeline and write down the name of the last pharaoh of Egypt.

Which of the following was NOT a task of a pharaoh?

1. please the gods
2. lead his army during a war
3. look after the irrigation systems
4. collect the taxes

Look at source 2.17. Which task of the pharaoh do you see on this source?

1. please the gods
2. protect his people from poverty
3. look after the irrigation systems
4. lead his army during a war

A historian says: ‘Egyptians, in the time of Ramesses II, looked at the pyramids and found them very old buildings.’ 

The historian means that Egypt stayed a powerful civilisation for three thousand years; so during the time of Ramesses II, the pyramids were already around 1,200 years old.

Which of these buildings is around 1200 years old for us today? Drag that one to the red box.

Acropolis 

Athens

Eiffel Tower

Paris

Cathedral

Reims

Colloseum

Rome

1200 years 

old

King

Pharaoh

In this exercise you will practise Skill 4: Comparing historical situations. Describe the differences between the power of the pharaoh in ancient Egypt and the power of our king today by dragging the words to the appropriate column.

ordinary man

rules alone

living god

government

less power

powerfull

Read "Egyptian society: layer for layer". The Egyptian society can be drawn as a pyramid. Drag the words below to the correct number.

priests

low civil servants

merchants, craftsmen

farmers, slaves

pharaoh

high civil servants

‘I bring people’s offerings to the gods.’

‘I help the pharaoh to lead the army.’

‘I am the king of Egypt.’

‘I write down laws.’

‘I make things with my hands.’

‘I have to work the fields.’

'I am the property of someone else'

Look at the following statements and drag the professions to the correct person.

craftsman

pharaoh

farmer

general

low civil servant

priest

slave

Read "The wealth of Egypt".


The text gives examples how Egypt could get rich. Which one is not mentioned in this text?

1. The Egyptians took the gold from the countries they conquered
2. the conquered lands had to pay taxes
3. the Egyptians sold the natural resources of the conquered lands
4. people were caught in wars and forced to work for the Egyptians

"The odd one out"
Select the one that does not fit in with the other three.

1. please the gods
2. work the land
3. look after the irrigation systems
4. lead the army during a war

"The odd one out"
Select the one that does not fit in with the other three.

1. Narmer
2. Ramesses II
3. Thutmose III
4. Hatshepsut

"The odd one out"
Select the one that does not fit in with the other three.

1. farmer
2. low civil servant
3. merchant
4. craftsman

Which of the following statements is correct?

1. a kingdom is ruled by a king
2 .an emperor rules a country that is called an empire

1. Only 1 is correct
2. only 2 is correct
3. both 1 and 2 are correct
4. both 1 and 2 are incorrect