Daily Life in Ancient EgyptDaily Life in Ancient Egypt

Chapter 9Chapter 9

Social ClassesSocial Classes

Artisans & Craftspeople

Priests

pharaoh

Egypt’s Social PyramidEgypt’s Social PyramidPeople usually belonged to the same People usually belonged to the same social class as their parents.social class as their parents.

Men and women had different roles Men and women had different roles in the home:in the home:

Men supported the family and trained their Men supported the family and trained their sons to take on their line of work.sons to take on their line of work.

Women raised the children. Upper class Women raised the children. Upper class women had servants or slaves.women had servants or slaves.

– Egyptian women had more rights that in other Egyptian women had more rights that in other societies. They could: ask for divorces, represent societies. They could: ask for divorces, represent themselves in legal matters, upper and middle themselves in legal matters, upper and middle class women could be doctors, government class women could be doctors, government officials and priestessesofficials and priestesses

Government OfficialsGovernment OfficialsThree important officials were Three important officials were the: vizier, chief treasurer and the: vizier, chief treasurer and the general of the armies.the general of the armies.The The viziervizier advised the advised the pharaoh and supervised the pharaoh and supervised the other government officials. other government officials. He also served as a chief He also served as a chief judge.judge.The chief treasurer managed The chief treasurer managed Egypt’s wealth. Egypt’s Egypt’s wealth. Egypt’s economy was based on goods economy was based on goods and people paid their taxes in and people paid their taxes in grain, cows, cloth, silver and grain, cows, cloth, silver and even beer.even beer.The General of the armies The General of the armies was the top military was the top military commander and helped the commander and helped the pharaoh make pharaoh make alliances.alliances.

PriestsPriestsA temple’s God was A temple’s God was thought to live in the thought to live in the statue. Only a priest statue. Only a priest could enter the could enter the sanctuary where the sanctuary where the statue was housed.statue was housed.To enter the priests To enter the priests had to be purifiedhad to be purified– Could not eat fishCould not eat fish– Bathe 3-4 times dailyBathe 3-4 times daily– Shave all body hairShave all body hair– Could not wear animal Could not wear animal

skinsskins

Egyptians believed in life Egyptians believed in life after death. The priests after death. The priests were in charge of were in charge of embalmingembalming and and mummifying the body.mummifying the body.First, the organs except First, the organs except the heart were removed the heart were removed and packed in salt.and packed in salt.The body was washed The body was washed and oiled, wrapped, and oiled, wrapped, decorated and wrapped decorated and wrapped again.again.When the body was When the body was ready it was put in a ready it was put in a sarcophagussarcophagus..

ScribesScribesOnly boys could go Only boys could go to Scribe School. to Scribe School. They began at age 5 They began at age 5 and continued for 12 and continued for 12 years or more.years or more.

Students had to Students had to memorize 700 memorize 700 hieroglyphs and hieroglyphs and frequently went to frequently went to school from dawn to school from dawn to dusk.dusk.

Artisans and CraftspeopleArtisans and CraftspeopleThis class included This class included carpenters, jewelers, carpenters, jewelers, leatherworkers, leatherworkers, metalworkers, painters, metalworkers, painters, potters, sculptors and potters, sculptors and weavers.weavers.Artisans played an Artisans played an important role in temple important role in temple and tomb building.and tomb building.Despite artisans skill and Despite artisans skill and creativity they were seen creativity they were seen as common laborers. as common laborers. Talented artists were Talented artists were never allowed to sign their never allowed to sign their work.work.

PeasantsPeasantsMember of the Member of the peasant class grew peasant class grew the crops that the crops that supplied everyone supplied everyone with food. When with food. When they weren’t working they weren’t working the fields they helped the fields they helped build monuments like build monuments like the pyramids.the pyramids.Three seasons of the Three seasons of the Nile:Nile:– Flooding Season: June Flooding Season: June

– September– September– Planting Season: Planting Season:

OctoberOctober– The Harvest Season: The Harvest Season:

MarchMarch