TheTheClass Class

Structure of Structure of Ancient Ancient EgyptEgypt

Egyptian LifeClass Structure:• Like other ancient societies, Egypt

had a class structure of various groups of people

• At the top was the ruling elite and at the bottom was the unskilled workers or slaves.

• There were more people at the bottom than top and so a diagram of the social groups would create a pyramid.

• Egypt’s upper class was made up of nobles, priests and other wealthy merchants. The middle class were the people who owned businesses while the lower class were those who did the physical labor.

Pharaoh• Born into being the ruler of the WORLD!• The Pharaohs were the Kings & Queens of

Egypt.• They were the head of government and high

priest of every temple.• The Pharaoh owned all of Egypt.• He or she decided what was right or what was

wrong and their word was law.• The people of Egypt considered the pharaoh

to be half-human and half-god.

Thutmose III

1504-1450 B.C.

Tutankhamon

1336-1327 B.C.

Ramses II

1279-1212 B.C.

• Priests were very important people in Egyptian times.

• Besides serving the gods, they had other jobs such as teaching, or even helping with the harvest.

• Priests had to be pure and clean. They shaved their heads and bodies and washed four times a day.

• Dem bee some clean homies.

Priests

• Court officials and Noblemen held high office in ancient Egypt and helped the Pharaoh to rule the country. Totally BFF4L

• The Pharaoh would often reward loyal nobles with gifts of land so that they would earn their own money from taxes.

• They were the upper class dressed in white linen clothes with heavy makeup and jewelry.

Nobles

• Scribes were the few Egyptians who knew how to read and write.

• They were highly regarded in ancient Egypt and had training that could last as long as twelve years.

• This is because there were hundreds of different hieroglyphs to remember.

Scribes

• Egypt’s middle class included people who ran businesses or produced goods.

• The Egyptian artisans were highly skilled craftsmen who produced all kinds of linen cloth, jewelry, pottery and metal goods.

• They learned their trade from their fathers and, in turn, taught their sons.

• The Pharaoh, government, or temples often employed them to produce things.

• Kept the country running and money flowing.

Traders, Artisans, and Merchants

• Farmers made up the largest group of ancient Egyptians.

• Some rented their land from the ruler, paying with a large portion of harvested of crops while others simply worked the land of the wealthy nobles.

• The farmers lived in villages along the Nile River in simple one-room huts.

Farmers

• Slaves were at the bottom of society.• In Egypt, people became slaves if they owed

debt, committed a crime, or were captured in war.

• The most famous Egyptian story of slaves was that of the Israelites (or Jews).

• Slaves were used on building projects but also toiled at the discretion of Pharaoh and the Nobles.

• Life was simple as a slave. Work. That’s it.

Laborers and slaves (unskilled workers)

• Slaves were at the bottom of society.• In Egypt, people became slaves if they owed

debt, committed a crime, or were captured in war.

• The most famous Egyptian story of slaves was that of the Israelites (or Jews).

• Slaves were used on building projects but also toiled at the discretion of Pharaoh and the Nobles.

• Life was simple as a slave. Work. That’s it.

Laborers and slaves (unskilled workers)