Ancient Egypt: Geography Trivia Quiz

Answer: River Valley

The Nile River, the longest in the world, is formed in Sudan by the joining of the Blue Nile and the White Nile. In ancient times the Egyptians called the river "Ar" or "Aur", which means black. As the ancient Greek Herodotus stated, Egypt was "the Gift of the Nile", meaning that without the river, civilization would not have been able to develop in the otherwise barren land.

Answer: Cataracts

Altogether there are six cataracts that stretch from modern day Aswan to Sabaluka pluton, which is north of Khartoum in Sudan. Interestingly, the ancient Egyptians, ever curious, were not able to find the source of the Nile because the same cataracts that protected them from their neighbors to the south blocked their path of discovery.

Answer: Delta

In ancient times the Nile River split into seven small branches that helped to form the delta region, and provided fertile soil and plentiful water. The climate was a bit more moderate than the area south along the river, known as Upper Egypt. In 3100 BC, Narmer united the Kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt and became the first pharaoh.

Answer: Red Land

Because the desert had a reddish hue, it was called the Red Land. Barren and mysterious, the Red Land consists today of six deserts (Western Desert, Eastern Desert, Great Sand Sea, Sinai Desert, White Desert, Black Desert) and comprises approximately 90% of the land surface of the country.

The ancients believed that the deceased would travel beyond the Western Desert to have their heart weighed by Osiris before they were admitted into the afterlife.

Answer: False

The barren desert actually protected ancient Egyptians from their neighbors and invading armies. This isolation enabled the Egyptians to create a very unique culture that was relatively free from outside influence. In addition, resources such as gold and copper, as well as semi-precious stones, were found in the desert.

Answer: The soil was rejuvenated.

Thick, black mud, rich in nutrients, was left behind after the flood waters of the Nile receded. Unless something unforeseen happened, there would be plenty of food to feed the people, and perhaps some left over to trade. Typical crops grown in ancient Egypt included grains and flax.

Answer: Natron

Natron actually had many different uses. Blended with oil, it could be used as soap. It could also be used to clean the teeth and as a mouthwash, as well as a treatment for wounds. Natron, used by embalmers during the mummification process, had the ability to draw fluids from the body and began the drying that was necessary to preserve the human body.

Answer: Oasis

The location of an oasis was of critical importance for trade and transportation. Used as early as the Old Kingdom in ancient Egypt, the Kharga Oasis was used to transport important goods, such as gold, ivory, spices, and animals.

Answer: Plateau

The Giza Plateau is the site of the cemeteries, a workers' village, as well as the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaura, and the Great Sphinx. Located a few miles from the modern city of Cairo, the Giza Complex has been a popular tourist site for centuries, and testifies to the the talent and mathematical knowledge of ancient Egyptian architects.

Answer: Papyrus

Papyrus was used for making a wide variety of other consumer goods including baskets, mats, and rope. Of course, papyrus was most famously used for making paper, which has provided much information to historians concerning the history of ancient Egypt.