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Uncovering the Past

Biography

Jean-Francois Champollion
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WHY HE MADE HISTORY Jean-Francois
Champollion is known as the founder of modern Egyptology. His discoveries about ancient hieroglyphics opened the door to the modern study of ancient Egypt.

As you read the biography below, think about how Champollions ability with languages helped him to decipher ancient hieroglyphics.

In the early 1800s little was known about ancient

Egypt. Although the Egyptians left many records in the form of hieroglyphics, the meaning of these ancient symbols was a mystery to scholars. JeanFrancois Champollion changed this. After many years of study he was able to translate ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, opening a new and exciting world of study for scholars. For the first time the secrets of ancient Egyptian history and culture could be explored. This is why Champollion is known as the founder of modern Egyptology. Jean-Francois Champollion was born in 1790 in France. He received his first education at home by his older brother. Champollion later studied in Paris and at the age of 19 he became a history professor. He was fluent in many languages, including six ancient oriental languages, Latin, and Greek. At an early age Champollion became absorbed in the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphics and this became his passion. It was through his patient study of the engravings on the Rosetta Stone that Champollion eventually managed to discover the meaning of these ancient hieroglyphics.

VOCABULARY hieroglyphics writing in picture symbols decipher figure out demotic script a simple form of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing

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Uncovering the Past

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Jean-Francois Champollion, continued

Biography

The Rosetta Stone is an ancient slab of black granite that was discovered by a French soldier in Egypt during the late 1700s. There is an engraved message on three separate sections of the stone. On each section the message is written in a different system of writingGreek, hieroglyphics, and demotic script. Aided by his knowledge of Greek and Coptic, a later version of the Egyptian language, Champollion translated the meaning of the hieroglyphics. He compared the Greek and the hieroglyphic sections of the stone and, after many years of careful study, he was able to devise key to decipher the hieroglyphics. Champollions discoveries served as the foundation for all later translations of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Recall What object did Jean-Francois Champollion study to eventually decipher

Egyptian hieroglyphics? Describe the object.

2. Draw a Conclusion Why is Champollion known as the founder of modern

Egyptology?

ACTIVITY Make up your own hieroglyphic symbols for letters or words and write a two- or three-sentence hieroglyphic message. Below the message, provide a key for each symbol. Find a partner in your class and trade messages and keys. Then use your keys to translate each others messages.

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Uncovering the Past

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Uncovering the Past

Answer Key
2. environmentthe aggregate of social,

Vocabulary Builder Section 1

Answers will vary but one example is: History is the study of the past. In order for historians to understand the past, they must understand the peoples culture. Culture consists of the knowledge, beliefs, customs, and values of a group of people. One way to learn about the past is through archaeology. Through archaeology, we can learn about the ways in which people used to live, work, and fight. People leave behind objects like jewelry, dishes, and weapons, which provide clues about how people used to live. Historians use different sources of information to find clues as to the way in which people use to live. There are two types of written sources historians use to gather this information. One of these sources is called a primary source. A primary source is an account of an event created by someone who took part in the event or witnessed the event. Examples of a primary source include court documents, treaties, letters, and diaries. The other type of written source is the secondary source. A secondary source is information gathered by someone who did not take part in or witness an event. Examples of a secondary source include history books and encyclopedias. This type of information is gathered from different sources about certain events. 1. true 2. falsesecondary source 3. true 4. falseprimary source 5. true 6. falsearchaeology

3.

4. 5.

6.

cultural, geographic, climatic, and natural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community geographya science that deals with the earth and its life; the description of land, sea, air, and the distribution of plant and animal life, including humans and their industries landformsnatural feature of a land surface regionan area characterized by the prevalence of one or more geographic and natural features resourcesa source of supply or support; an available means; materials found in the Earth that people need and value

Biography Howard Carter

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Carter discovered Tutankhamuns tomb in

the Valley of the Kings in Egypt in 1922.

2. Possible answers: Tutankhamuns tomb

is the greatest discovery in Egyptology because it is the finest almost intact royal tomb ever found. Over 3500 items were recovered from it.

Biography Jean Francois Champollion

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Champollion was able to decipher

Vocabulary Builder Section 2

1. climatethe average course or condition

of the weather at a place over a period of years as exhibited by temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation

Egyptian hieroglyphics by studying the Rosetta Stone. Possible answers: The Rosetta Stone was an ancient slab of black granite. It contained a message engraved on three separate sections of the stone in three different forms of writing; the Greek alphabet, demotic script, and hieroglyphics. 2. Possible answers: Champollion is known as the founder of modern Egyptology because he first translated ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Their meanings were unknown up until then. After his discoveries, the modern study of ancient Egypt became possible.

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Uncovering the Past