A)
Which of the following religious beliefs of the Egyptians helps explain the construction of the pyramids?
(1 point)
They worshipped the sun; therefore they build pyramids pointing directly at the sun.
They believed in an afterlife in which the preservation of the body was important.
They believed that the ka – a person’s soul – would escape after death unless confined to a dark chamber within a pyramid.
They believed that the gods could reside only in the most magnificent of temples.
A)
In which of the following ways did Egyptian pharaohs differ from kings of other cultures?
(1 point)
They were absolute rulers.
They were considered gods.
They were considered immortal.
They passed their kingship to their sons.
B) They were considered gods.
A)
Which of the following was NOT among the ways that the invention of papyrus helped to advance Egyptian society?
(1 point)
It gave them a way to document and communicate important information.
It gave them a medium for artwork, writing, and government administration.
It helped to preserve the body as part of the mummification process.
It aided communication and collaboration on large building projects.
C) It helped to preserve the body as part of the mummification process.
B) They believed in an afterlife in which the preservation of the body was important.
To determine which of the religious beliefs of the Egyptians helps explain the construction of the pyramids, we need to carefully analyze each option.
1) They worshipped the sun, therefore they built pyramids pointing directly at the sun: This option suggests that the Egyptians constructed pyramids facing the sun because they worshipped it. However, while the alignment of some pyramids with certain astronomical phenomena has been observed, such as the alignment of the Great Pyramids of Giza with the constellation Orion, this belief is not supported by extensive evidence.
2) They believed in an afterlife in which the preservation of the body was important: This is a widely accepted belief of the ancient Egyptians. They believed in the concept of an afterlife and the preservation of the body, as seen through the practice of mummification. This belief is more directly connected to the construction of tombs and burial chambers rather than the construction of pyramids.
3) They believed that the ka – a person’s soul – would escape after death unless confined to a dark chamber within a pyramid: This belief is closely linked to the construction of pyramids. The Egyptians believed that the ka, the spiritual essence of a person, must be protected and kept within the physical body after death. Building pyramids allowed for the creation of dark, enclosed chambers where the pharaoh's body and funerary items could be preserved, ensuring the ka would not escape.
4) They believed that the gods could reside only in the most magnificent of temples: While the ancient Egyptians did construct elaborate and majestic temples, this belief does not directly explain the construction of pyramids. Temples were dedicated to specific deities, whereas pyramids served as tombs for pharaohs and were closely connected to their afterlife beliefs.
Based on the above analysis, the belief that best explains the construction of the pyramids is option 3: "They believed that the ka – a person’s soul – would escape after death unless confined to a dark chamber within a pyramid." This belief ties directly to the purpose of the pyramids as protective structures for the pharaoh's body and the preservation of the ka.