Ancient History: Egypt : War, Conflict, and Expansion

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : War, Conflict, And Expansion

Which of the following is not cited as a reason for the collapse of the Old Kingdom?

Possible Answers:

Royal authority weakened and Memphis lost eminence to other towns

The country's over-dependence on the Nile created disastrous conditions during extreme floods

Drought plagued the kingdom and brought great destruction and famine

The kingdom became politically and militarily overextended and could no longer protect its interests abroad

Threats to Egypt's borders weakened the country

Correct answer:

The kingdom became politically and militarily overextended and could no longer protect its interests abroad

Explanation:

By the Sixth Dynasty royal authority had begun to weaken as nobles acquired more political influence. The Niles extreme flooding, disastrous droughts and border threats have also been cited as factors in the decline of the Old Kingdom. Political and military overextension was not an issue during the Old Kingdom. 

Example Question #2 : War, Conflict, And Expansion

The greatest amount of pyramid-building activity occurred during which of the Kingdoms?

Possible Answers:

Neolithic Egypt

The New Kingdom

The Middle Kingdom

The Old Kingdom

Correct answer:

The Old Kingdom

Explanation:

The Old Kingdom, spanning from 2686 - 2181 BCE, was the period in which most of the pyramid-building occurred. This largely stemmed from the fact that civilized rule began in this period and the rulers first realized decided that rulers should be memorialized and buried in these large monuments. Pyramid-building tapered off towards the end of the Old Kingdom and beginning of the Middle Kingdom because rulers during this time realized how building the pyramids was incredibly time-consuming and expensive, not to mention that they were often robbed by tomb raiders.

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