Daily Life and Social structure of ancient Egypt
Daily life in ancient Egypt was much different than daily life today. Unlike how they are portrayed in movies, where they love death and evil, they actually were nothing like that. They loved color and life. In ancient Egypt everyone ate well, bathed, had their own homes and comfortable furniture. Most Egyptians worked very hard to get money or keep their business running. To the Ancient Egyptians, family was the most important, the children were the center of the family. If a couple couldn’t have a child they would adopt one. The children were brought up to be honest and kind as well as learning to respect their parents. They were also taught to help the family business and care for the elders in the family.
The social structure in ancient Egypt was organized. Pharaohs led the civilization, then government officials, priests, scribes, soldiers, artisans, and slaves.
Pharaohs wore many gems and jewelry. They lived in a large house and had servants. Pharaohs had many responsibilities. They held religious ceremonies and went to daily meetings. They paid tribute to the gods, including sacrificing a bull, and visited construction of monuments.
Government officials had fewer responsibilities than pharaohs. Viziers served as judges. The chief treasurer collected taxes and supervised Egypt’s wealth. The general was second in command in the Egyptian army, after the pharaoh. Government officials lived in splendid townhouses. Some of their responsibilities included getting figures on livestock and the harvest. They wore a fine linen kilt and leather sandals. The foods that they ate were bread, fruit, geese, duck, fish, ox, goat, gazelle, grapes, melons, figs, dates, pistachio nuts, and pomegranate.
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Priests were another social class with many responsibilities. They dressed, cleaned, and fed the gods. Temple priests were in charge of temples. Other priests healed and gave advice. In addition, the priests oversaw mummification. Priests lived in the temples. They wore a linen kilt and ate bread, roasted meat, fruit, vegetables, and pea and lentil soup.
Soldiers defended and attacked for the civilization in times of war. they wore sandals and a linen kilt. They trained and lived in buildings called barracks. Some of the jobs that they might be assigned include bodyguard, keeping watch, battle drills, or working on government projects. When fighting, they were armed with spears and bows and arrows, and some rode in chariots. They ate bread, lentils, and garlic.
There were many different types of scribes, and each had a different responsibility. Scribes recorded the calculations of the census, and some calculated and collected taxes. Legal scribes worked in court cases and enforced laws.
Military scribes kept track of the amount of soldiers, food supply, and the number of enemies killed in battle. Merchants, artisans, and peasants could all become scribes if they went to scribe school.
Artisans, also called craftspeople, worked on projects in their workshop. The different types of craftspeople included carpenters, jewelers, leatherworkers, metalworkers, painters, potters, sculptors, weavers, and stone carvers. They lived in modest three room homes and wore linen kilts. They ate figs, dates, bread with butter and honey, fish, meat, lentils, carrots, and beer.
Peasants, or farmers, were the largest of the social classes. They grew crops like wheat and barley and raised livestock. When the river flooded, they worked on royal projects. They lived in small houses. In their free time they played a river game. They also sang while they worked. A typical day’s food included bread, fruit, meat, and beer.
Women stayed at home. They took care of the house, stocked the cupboards, did the laundry, and cooked. Women could also own land and run businesses. They could even ask for divorces. Those who were in the upper and middle classes could become doctors, government officials, and priestesses.
Soldiers defended and attacked for the civilization in times of war. they wore sandals and a linen kilt. They trained and lived in buildings called barracks. Some of the jobs that they might be assigned include bodyguard, keeping watch, battle drills, or working on government projects. When fighting, they were armed with spears and bows and arrows, and some rode in chariots. They ate bread, lentils, and garlic.
There were many different types of scribes, and each had a different responsibility. Scribes recorded the calculations of the census, and some calculated and collected taxes. Legal scribes worked in court cases and enforced laws.
Military scribes kept track of the amount of soldiers, food supply, and the number of enemies killed in battle. Merchants, artisans, and peasants could all become scribes if they went to scribe school.
Artisans, also called craftspeople, worked on projects in their workshop. The different types of craftspeople included carpenters, jewelers, leatherworkers, metalworkers, painters, potters, sculptors, weavers, and stone carvers. They lived in modest three room homes and wore linen kilts. They ate figs, dates, bread with butter and honey, fish, meat, lentils, carrots, and beer.
Peasants, or farmers, were the largest of the social classes. They grew crops like wheat and barley and raised livestock. When the river flooded, they worked on royal projects. They lived in small houses. In their free time they played a river game. They also sang while they worked. A typical day’s food included bread, fruit, meat, and beer.
Women stayed at home. They took care of the house, stocked the cupboards, did the laundry, and cooked. Women could also own land and run businesses. They could even ask for divorces. Those who were in the upper and middle classes could become doctors, government officials, and priestesses.