Ancient Egyptian Ancient Egyptian CultureCultureCoach ParrishCoach Parrish

OMSOMS

Chapter 3, Section 4Chapter 3, Section 4

Social ClassesSocial Classes Most of what is known about social Most of what is known about social

classes, and other Egyptian history is classes, and other Egyptian history is from their artwork.from their artwork.

Egyptian society resembled a pyramid. Egyptian society resembled a pyramid. 1.1. At the top was the pharaoh. Beneath him At the top was the pharaoh. Beneath him

was a small upper class including priests, was a small upper class including priests, pharaoh’s court, and landholding nobles. pharaoh’s court, and landholding nobles.

2.2. Below the upper class was the middle Below the upper class was the middle class of merchants and skilled workers. class of merchants and skilled workers.

3.3. At the bottom of the social pyramid was At the bottom of the social pyramid was the lower class called peasants.the lower class called peasants.

Social Class PyramidSocial Class Pyramid

SlaverySlavery

Prisoners captured in wars were Prisoners captured in wars were made into slaves. Slaves formed a made into slaves. Slaves formed a separate social class that was never separate social class that was never very large in number.very large in number.

Slaves in Egypt could own personal Slaves in Egypt could own personal items and inherit land from their items and inherit land from their masters. Occasionally they were masters. Occasionally they were also made free.also made free.

Lives of the PeasantsLives of the Peasants

Most peasants worked the land of wealthy Most peasants worked the land of wealthy Egyptians. During the flood season, they Egyptians. During the flood season, they worked on roads, temples, and buildings. worked on roads, temples, and buildings.

Once the flood season was over, they Once the flood season was over, they quickly worked the soil to prepare crops quickly worked the soil to prepare crops for planting.for planting.

The busiest season for the peasants was The busiest season for the peasants was harvest season when men, women, and harvest season when men, women, and children went into the fields to pick the children went into the fields to pick the crops.crops.

Women in EgyptWomen in Egypt

Women were viewed as living Women were viewed as living models of Isis, the goddess of models of Isis, the goddess of motherhood.motherhood.

Egyptian women had the same Egyptian women had the same rights as men and held various jobs rights as men and held various jobs throughout the empire.throughout the empire.

A New System of WritingA New System of Writing

In ancient Egypt, they wrote using a In ancient Egypt, they wrote using a system of pictures to stand for words system of pictures to stand for words called called hieroglyphshieroglyphs..

Some symbols stood for words and Some symbols stood for words and other symbols stood for sounds. other symbols stood for sounds. They began using hieroglyphs They began using hieroglyphs because of the empire’s growing because of the empire’s growing wealth.wealth.

Writing MaterialsWriting Materials At first, the Egyptians wrote on clay and At first, the Egyptians wrote on clay and

stone like the Sumerians. Over time, they stone like the Sumerians. Over time, they wanted to write on something more wanted to write on something more stable, so they chose papyrus. stable, so they chose papyrus.

PapyrusPapyrus – early form of paper made from – early form of paper made from a reed found in the marshy areas of the a reed found in the marshy areas of the Nile delta.Nile delta.

Papyrus was made by cutting the inner Papyrus was made by cutting the inner stalks into narrow strips, laying them side stalks into narrow strips, laying them side by side, wetting them and then letting by side, wetting them and then letting them dry outside.them dry outside.

Papyrus ArtworkPapyrus Artwork

Unlocking a MysteryUnlocking a Mystery Historians could not read ancient Historians could not read ancient

Egyptian hieroglyphics until 1799 AD. Egyptian hieroglyphics until 1799 AD. A soldier found a large stone later A soldier found a large stone later called the Rosetta Stone while digging a called the Rosetta Stone while digging a fort in the Nile delta.fort in the Nile delta.

The Rosetta Stone contained 3 The Rosetta Stone contained 3 languages on it, hieroglyphics, demotic languages on it, hieroglyphics, demotic (later Egyptian writing), and Greek (later Egyptian writing), and Greek letters. In 1820, a French scholar letters. In 1820, a French scholar named Jean Francois Champollion named Jean Francois Champollion cracked the code.cracked the code.

Jean-Francois Jean-Francois ChampollionChampollion

Egyptian LegacyEgyptian Legacy

AstronomersAstronomers – scientists who study the – scientists who study the stars and other objects. Egyptians were stars and other objects. Egyptians were astronomers in that they knew when the astronomers in that they knew when the Nile would flood based on Sirius (dog Nile would flood based on Sirius (dog star). star).

Because of mummification, ancient Because of mummification, ancient Egyptians knew a great deal about the Egyptians knew a great deal about the body. They learned how to perform body. They learned how to perform surgery on broken bones. They also used surgery on broken bones. They also used plants to create medicines.plants to create medicines.