TERMS & NAMES
Life in scribe
hieroglyph
Ancient Egypt
papyrus
afterlife
embalm
mummy
Build on What You Know As you have seen, Egypt
prospered along the Nile. This prosperity made life easier
and provided greater opportunities for many Egyptians.
Work and Family Life
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did work and social roles affect people
in ancient Egypt?
When farmers produce food surpluses, the society’s economy
begins to expand. Cities emerge as centers of culture and
power, and people learn to do jobs that do not involve
agriculture. For example, some ancient Egyptians learned to
be scribes
scribes, people whose job was to write and keep records.
Specialized Jobs As Egyptian civilization grew more
complex, people took on jobs other than that of a farmer or
scribe. Some skilled artisans erected stone or brick houses Luxor, Egypt Skilled
and temples. Other artisans made pottery, incense, mats, artisans helped to
furniture, linen clothing, sandals, or jewelry. build this temple
A few Egyptians traveled to the upper Nile to trade with and the shafts with
pointed tops, which
other Africans. These traders took Egyptian products such are called obelisks. ▼
as scrolls, linen, gold, and jewelry. They brought back exotic
woods, animal skins, and live beasts.
155
Rulers and Priests As Egypt grew, so did its need to organize.
Egyptians created a government that divided the empire into 42
provinces. Many officials worked to keep the provinces running
smoothly. Egypt also created an army to defend itself.
One of the highest jobs in Egypt was to be a priest. Priests
followed formal rituals and took care of the temples. Before
entering a temple, a priest bathed and put on special linen
garments and white sandals. Priests cleaned the sacred statues in
temples, changed their clothes, and even fed them meals.
Egyptian Social Roles
Pharaoh The ruler, called the SKILLBUILDER
pharaoh, was above all other INTERPRETING VISUALS
people because he or she was What activities do you see
considered a god. Pharaoh being performed in this
chart? At what level of the
pyramid is most of the hard
physical labor done?
Priests The priests cared
for the temples and held
ceremonies to keep the
gods happy. Priests and Nobles
Scribes The scribes were
trained in the art of writing
and record keeping.
Scribes and Government Officials
Farmers, Laborers,
and Slaves The
largest segment of the
population was made
up of farmers, laborers,
and slaves. Craftspeople and Merchants
Farmers
Laborers and Slaves
156 • Chapter 5
Together, the priests and the ruler held ceremonies to please
the gods. Egyptians believed that if the gods were angry, the Nile
would not flood. As a result, crops would not grow, and people
would die. So the ruler and the priests tried hard to keep the
gods happy. By doing so, they hoped to maintain the social and
political order.
Slaves Slaves were at the bottom of society. In Egypt, people
became slaves if they owed a debt, committed a crime, or were
captured in war. Egyptian slaves were usually freed after a period
of time. One exception was the slaves who had to work in the
mines. Many died from the exhausting labor.
Life for Women Egypt was one of the best places in the
ancient world to be a woman. Unlike other ancient African
cultures, in Egyptian society men and women had fairly equal
rights. For example, they could both own and manage their
own property.
The main job of most women was to care for their children
and home, but some did other jobs too. Some women
wove cloth. Others worked with their husbands in fields or
workshops. Some women, such as Queen Tiy, even rose to
important positions in the government.
Childhood Children in Egypt played with toys such as dolls,
animal figures, board games, and marbles. Their parents made
the toys from wood or clay. Boys and girls also played rough
physical games with balls made of leather or reeds.
Boys and some girls from wealthy families went to schools
run by scribes or priests. Most other children learned their
parents’ jobs. Almost all Egyptians married when they were in
their early teens.
What were the levels of Egyptian society?
Expanding Knowledge
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did learning advance in ancient Egypt?
As in many ancient societies, much of the knowledge of Egypt
came about as priests studied the world to find ways to please the
gods. Other advances came about because of practical discoveries.
Ancient Egypt • 157
Astronomy Egyptian priests studied the sky as part of their
religion. About 5,000 years ago, they noticed that a star now
called Sirius (SIHR•ee•uhs) appeared shortly before the Nile
began to flood. The star returned to the same position in 365
days. Based on that, Egyptians developed the world’s first
practical calendar.
Geometry The Egyptians developed some of the first geometry.
Each year the Nile’s floods washed away land boundaries. To
restore property lines, surveyors measured the land by using
ropes that were knotted at regular intervals.
Geometric shapes such as squares and triangles were sacred
to Egyptians. Architects used them in the design of royal temples
and monuments.
Medicine Egyptian doctors often prepared dead bodies for
burial, so they knew the parts of the body. That knowledge
helped them perform some of the world’s first surgery. Some
doctors specialized in using medicines made of herbs.
Egyptian medicine was far from perfect. Doctors believed
that the heart controlled thought and the brain circulated blood,
which is the opposite of what is known now. Some Egyptian
treatments would raise eyebrows today. One “cure” for an upset
stomach was to eat a hog’s tooth crushed inside sugar cakes!
Hieroglyphs Beginning about 3000 B.C., Egyptians
developed a writing system using hieroglyphs. Hieroglyphs
(HY•uhr•uh•GLIHFS) are pictures that stand for different
words or sounds. Early Egyptians created a hieroglyphic
system with about 700 characters. Over time the system
grew to include more than 6,000 symbols.
The Egyptians also developed a paper-
like material called papyrus (puh•PY•ruhs)
from a reed of the same name. Egyptians
cut the stems into strips, pressed them,
and dried them into sheets that could
be rolled into scrolls. Papyrus scrolls
were light and easy to carry. With them,
Egyptians created some of the first books.
▲ Scribe A person who
What advances in learning did the wanted to be a scribe had to
Egyptians make? study many years to learn all
of the hieroglyphs.
158 • Chapter 5
These symbols
represent the name
of ruler Senusret I.
Hieroglyphs
The ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphs These pictures
stand for the idea
in many ways, as shown in this carving
“given life.”
of Senusret I, a ruler from the 1900s B.C.
• They could be simple picture
writing. For example, a wavy line
might mean “water.”
• Some pictures stood for ideas. A
circle often meant Re, the sun god.
• Finally, some signs also came to These symbols
represent sounds. For example, the represent the name
signs below represent the name of the Egyptian
of Cleopatra, a foreign queen who god Amon.
would later rule Egypt.
+, % 0 ! 42 !4
DOCUMENT–BASED QUESTION
What do you think is the purpose of
the hieroglyphs on this carving?
Beliefs and Religion
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What religious beliefs did Egyptians hold?
We know from their writing and their art that, in general, the
Egyptians had a positive view of life. The black land provided
most of the Egyptians’ needs. As a result, they did not have to
struggle to make a living.
Life After Death Their positive outlook shaped their Vocabulary Strategy
religion and led them to believe that the gods favored Afterlife is a
compound word.
them. Egyptians believed that their prosperity could You can divide it into
continue with a happy afterlife. An afterlife is a life the words after and
believed to follow death. Not every ancient culture shared life. An afterlife is a
Egyptians’ beliefs. For example, the Sumerians thought life believed to follow
death.
that the afterlife was miserable.
Ancient Egypt • 159
▲ Judgment of the Dead Egyptians believed that bad deeds made a heart heavy.
They thought that the god Anubis weighed each dead person’s heart, as shown in
this Egyptian art. If it was lighter than a feather, the reward was a happy afterlife.
If the heart was heavier than a feather, Anubis fed it to a monster.
Many Gods As you have learned in Chapter 3, polytheism is
a belief in many gods. The Egyptians worshiped gods that were
related to the afterlife and to parts of nature—such as the sun,
the river, and plant life. Some of the most important Egyptian
gods included
• Re (ray)—the sun god (later called Amon-Re)
• Osiris (oh•SY•rihs)—a god who judged
Egyptians after death
• Isis (EYE•sihs)—a fertility goddess who was
Osiris’ wife
• Anubis (uh•NOO•bihs)—a god of the dead
Making Mummies Egyptians thought they would need Primary Source
Handbook
their bodies in the afterlife, so they embalmed dead people. See the excerpt from
Embalm means to preserve a body after death. First, embalmers the Book of the Dead,
page R39.
removed all organs except the heart. Next, they filled the body
with a mixture of salt and herbs to create a mummy. A mummy
is a body that has been dried so it won’t decay. When dry, the
mummy was wrapped in hundreds of yards of linen strips. The
whole process of embalming and wrapping took about 70 days.
Embalming was expensive, and not everyone could afford it.
160 • Chapter 5
The mummy was placed in a coffin inside a tomb. The tomb
also held everyday objects, furniture, and food. Scenes from the
person’s life were painted on the walls. The Egyptians expected
these pictures to become real so that the dead person could use Anubis Egyptians
them in the afterlife. believed the jackal-
headed god Anubis
weighed their hearts
What did the Egyptians think happened after death?
after death. ▼
Lesson Summary
• The Egyptians developed a calendar, early
geometry, medical knowledge, and
hieroglyphic writing.
• Ancient Egypt had a complex society with
specialized jobs. Women and slaves lived better
there than in many other ancient lands.
• The Egyptians believed in many gods related to
nature. They also believed in a happy afterlife.
Why It Matters Now . . .
The ancient Egyptians were the first people known
to develop a formal religion based on a belief in the
afterlife. Such a belief is part of most religions today.
2 Homework Helper
[Link]
Terms & Names Main Ideas
1. Explain the importance of 3. Why were some Egyptians able to become
scribe papyrus embalm artisans?
hieroglyph afterlife mummy 4. How were hieroglyphs used?
5. What duties did priests have?
Using Your Notes
Categorizing Use your completed web diagram to Critical Thinking
answer the following question: 6. Understanding Cause and Effect Why were
2. What jobs did Egyptians hold? Egyptian discoveries in astronomy and medicine
important?
Religion Learning
7. Making Generalizations How did the Nile
Egyptian affect the Egyptians’ view of the afterlife?
culture
Work and
family
Writing in Hieroglyphs Use the hieroglyphs shown on page 159 to write
a few words.
Ancient Egypt • 161
Name Date
MENTAL MATH QUIZ 6:1
1) 3+4x7
2) 23 + 32
3) Tyger travels 135 miles in 3 hours. What is the unit rate? _____ mph
Which of these numbers is are prime numbers?
4)
25 29 33 31 39 21
5) Which two numbers have a sum of 14 and a product of 45?
6) How many fifths make 3?
7) What is the value of x if x + 4 = 25? x = _____
8) What is the value of this number: LXXIV?
9) If a third of a number is 12, what is the number?
Which of these numbers is not a factor of 36?
10)
3 12 1 8 2 18 6
11) How many yards in 81 feet?
There is 24 fluid ounces of water in a bottle. I drink ¼ of the water.
12)
How many fluid ounces are left?
Put these numbers in order, smallest first:
13)
-3 -8 0 -2
What is the area of this triangle?
3 cm
14)
8 cm
15) What is 10% of $200?
The ratio of red balls to blue balls in a bag is 1:3.
16)
If there are 9 red balls, how many blue balls are there?
17) 10 x 31.25
I set off at 07:25. My journey takes me 8 hours and 45 minutes.
18)
What time will I arrive? Write in 24 hour clock time.
Section A: Proportional Relationships
1. At a bakery, 6 muffins cost $18. At the same rate, how much would 10
muffins cost?
2. A car can travel 240 miles on 12 gallons of fuel. At the same rate, how far
can it travel on 15 gallons of fuel?
3. A factory produces 50 units in 4 hours. How many units can it produce in
10 hours at the same rate?
4. A copy machine prints 45 pages in 3 minutes. How many pages will it
print in 8 minutes at the same rate?
5. A grocery store sells 5 apples for $7.50. At the same rate, how much would
8 apples cost?
Section B: Multi-Step Problems
6. A jacket costs $200. It is first discounted by 20% and then a sales tax of
8% is applied. What is the final price?
7. A meal at a restaurant costs $60 before tax. If an 18% tip is added after a
7% tax, how much will the total bill be?
8. A bicycle is sold for $300 after a 25% discount. What was the original
price?
9. A laptop costs $1,500. It is first marked down by 15% and then marked up
by 10%. What is the final price?
10. A mobile phone costs $800. After a 20% discount, a 5% sales tax is
added. What is the total amount paid?
Section C: Mixed Proportionality & Percentage Problems
11. A baker uses 2 cups of flour to make 5 muffins. How much flour is
needed to make 15 muffins? If the cost of 1 cup of flour is $1.50, calculate
the total cost of flour for 15 muffins.
12. A shop sells 8 pens for $12. At the same rate, how much would 15 pens
cost? Then, if the shop offers a 10% discount on the total cost, what is the
final price for 15 pens?
13. A factory produces 120 toys in 6 hours. At the same rate, how many toys
will it produce in 15 hours? If the cost to make one toy is $5, calculate the
total production cost for 15 hours of work.
14. A car rental costs $25 per day. If a customer rents the car for 4 days and
an additional tax of 12% is applied, what is the total amount paid?
15. A book is priced at $120 after a 10% discount. What was the original
price of the book? If a 5% sales tax is added to the discounted price, what is
the final price?
Name: _____________________________________ Date: ______________
Proportions Worksheet
Round the answers to 1 decimal digit.
1 a. 25 = 28 1 b. b = 29
d 22 74 6
2 a. 62 = 60 2 b. a = 14
d 100 20 33
3 a. a = 21 3 b. 29 = 89
94 84 32 a
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number of students for their mathematics work. Do not distribute on websites, books, or any such material without permission.
Name: _____________________________________ Date: ______________
4 a. a = 90 4 b. 21 = x
79 83 47 62
5 a. x = 93 5 b. 51 = d
24 59 13 43
6 a. 74 = 29 6 b. 66 = a
6 a 49 81
7 a. 90 = x 7 b. 69 = 25
39 93 d 26
Copyright [Link] - [Link]/worksheets. Permission to copy: You are free to copy this worksheet to any
number of students for their mathematics work. Do not distribute on websites, books, or any such material without permission.
Name: _____________________________________ Date: ______________
Proportions Worksheet
Round the answers to 1 decimal digit.
1 a. A boat can travel 15 miles on 5 1 b. A boat can travel 352 miles on 88
gallons of gasoline. How much gallons of gasoline. How much
gasoline will it need to go 108 gasoline will it need to go 16 miles?
miles?
2 a. A car can travel 504 miles on 18 2 b. A boat can travel 70 miles on 10
gallons of gasoline. How much gallons of gasoline. How much
gasoline will it need to go 448 gasoline will it need to go 56 miles?
miles?
3 a. A boat can travel 216 miles on 54 3 b. A boat can travel 483 miles on 69
gallons of gasoline. How much gallons of gasoline. How much
gasoline will it need to go 404 gasoline will it need to go 133
miles? miles?
Copyright [Link] - [Link]/worksheets. Permission to copy: You are free to copy this worksheet to any
number of students for their mathematics work. Do not distribute on websites, books, or any such material without permission.
Name: _____________________________________ Date: ______________
4 a. A boat can travel 132 miles on 33 4 b. A car can travel 186 miles on 6
gallons of gasoline. How much gallons of gasoline. How much
gasoline will it need to go 212 gasoline will it need to go 124
miles? miles?
5 a. A boat can travel 84 miles on 14 5 b. A car can travel 104 miles on 8
gallons of gasoline. How much gallons of gasoline. How much
gasoline will it need to go 210 gasoline will it need to go 416
miles? miles?
6 a. A boat can travel 200 miles on 25 6 b. A car can travel 93 miles on 3
gallons of gasoline. How much gallons of gasoline. How much
gasoline will it need to go 128 gasoline will it need to go 372
miles? miles?
Copyright [Link] - [Link]/worksheets. Permission to copy: You are free to copy this worksheet to any
number of students for their mathematics work. Do not distribute on websites, books, or any such material without permission.
