Egyptian Class Structure

Grade 6

Table of Contents1. Introduction: The classes of

Egypt2. Pharaohs, Government

Officials, and Soldiers3. Scribes, Merchants, and

Artisans4. Farmers5. Slavery6. Impact of Classes on Egypt

and the World7. Conclusion: Summary

The Classes of Egypt• The Classes of Egypt can be represented by

a pyramid:

Class Structure of Egypt

Pharaohs, Government Officials, and Soldiers

• The Pharaoh was the supreme ruler of Egypt. He held possession of all the land, and was considered a god embodied on the earth. No laws had to be written because all the commands that he spoke were followed by the Egyptians.

• Government officials were the Pharaoh’s advisers. They enforced laws, oversaw construction of pyramids and tombs, pleased the gods, found trade opportunities and collected taxes.

• Soldiers took part in warfare and trade missions. Egypt’s soldiers helped by expanding and gaining more territory.

Scribes, Merchants, and Artisans

Scribes: • Recorded the deeds of the Pharaoh. This educated class kept record of

supplies, had power to fulfill duties of viziers and could write laws in order to enforce them.

Merchants:• Referred to as Crafts people, merchants gained money depending on the

amounts of objects they would create and sell. They looked no different than commoners in Egypt.

Artisans:• This class was part of the Egyptian working class. Though they were not self

supporting in terms of agriculture, they did have to work for their food.

Farmers

• Farmers were essential for Ancient Egyptian Economy

• The farmers provided food for all classes, including the slaves that (apparently) worked on the Great Pyramid

Farmers Cont.• Farmers were one of

the classes that, when they fell on hard times, sold themselves into slavery.

• Farmers were a part of the lower classes, aka: The Working Class.

Farmers Cont.• Self supporting, the

farmers of ancient Egypt relied on the receding floodwaters of the Nile. The departure of the water created fresh fertile soil that was ideal for agriculture. They harvested their crops (which were mainly grains) with primitive wooden ploughs. Farmers were the ultimate support of ancient Egyptian society and are arguably the most crucial class.

Slavery in EgyptThere were two types of slaves:

Foreign and Domestic.DOMESTIC slaves were Egyptian. They were generally treated better, and could also be freed by their owners.

FOREIGN slaves were people who were captured in war and sold by Merchants

Slavery in Egypt Cont.Domestic slaves were generally people who

fell on hard times or were born into slavery (their parents were slaves).

Slavery in Egypt Cont.The Hebrew (Israelite) Slaves

The traditional biblical story states that the Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt for four hundred years. The Torah book of Exodus tells us that the Hebrews left Egypt at the time of a pharaoh identified as Rameses II. The Hebrews originally moved to Egypt due to a famine in their native Canaan, and eventually permanently settled there. The Pharaoh came to see their presence as a threat to his Kingdom, so he enslaved them. The departure from Egypt (led by Moses) is called the Exodus and remains an important event in Jewish history. The Hebrews then found themselves at Mount Sinai where Moses received the Torah from God.

Slavery in Egypt cont.Prisoners of War

The warrior king Tuthmosis brought the New Kingdom to its greatest extent by conquering the entire Levant and establishing a frontier on the upper Euphrates. In Africa, Egyptian power extended into Nubia as far south as Napata. Prisoners of war either became slaves, or were forced into Military service.

Impact of Classes on Egypt and the World

The Egyptian classes, like all class structures, acted as the foundation of their society. Every facet in the hierarchy performed a specific task in their society that assisted its

ultimate success.Although we do not have Pharaohs and we don’t keep

slaves, we can look to ancient Egypt for comparison to our own society and learn from

their advantages and disadvantages.

Conclusion

• Egyptian society consisted of eight main classes.

• The Pharaoh was the King of all and the slaves had nothing to their name.

• The Egyptian hierarchy was essential for its society to function successfully.

Discussion Questions1. Do you think the social hierarchy was effective in

Ancient Egyptian society?2. On our hierarchy we placed the scribes below the

soldiers, however on some hierarchies the scribes are above the soldiers. Which do you believe is more correct and why?

3. Do you think the education provided to the upper class gave them an advantage (more power) or do you believe all their power was simply because they were born with it?

4. Which classes do you believe attributed to the building of the Great Pyramid, and how many slaves do you personally believe assisted in its construction, if any?