Assessment Questions 10.5

1. What does Herodotus mean when he refers to Egypt as "the gift of the Nile"?

Herodotus meant that the Nile, with its life-giving water and fertile soil, was crucial for sustaining ancient Egyptian civilization.

2. During which time period did the transition from oval thatched houses to rectangular mud-brick houses occur in Egypt?

The transition occurred around 5,750 years ago during the Amratian/Nagada I culture in Upper Egypt and the Omari A culture in Lower Egypt.

3. What is significant about Late Gerzean times (Nagada II and Maadian) in ancient Egypt?

Late Gerzean times mark the first clear evidence of social inequality, with differentiated burials indicating the concentration of wealth in an elite class.