February 13, 2015
Social Classes in Ancient
Egypt
What is a social pyramid?
A grouping of people based on
common characteristics. An individual
with the most power is at the top; the
group with the least power at the
bottom.
February 13, 2015
Here is what the
Egyptian social
class pyramid
looked like...........
What conclusions can be drawn by looking at this pyramid?
February 13, 2015
At the top of the social pyramid was the
pharaoh who was the political, religious and
economic ruler of Egyptians.
· In theory, he owned and controlled all the land, people, and possessions
· He was worshipped by his subjects as a god-king who was considered the son
of Ra, the sun god. The pharaoh spent much of his time preparing for his afterlife,
by having his subjects build large tombs called the pyramids.
· The pharaoh collected vast amounts of taxes used to fund projects such as
building pyramids and temples. These taxes also went to help pay for skilled workers,
scribes, artisans, and military personnel. Taxes also helped in recovery efforts for
peasants during time of floods.
Click here to go to "Pharaoh:" Lord
of Two Lands" web page
February 13, 2015
The next class consisted of the vizier and
the nobles, who made up the pharaoh's court,
priests, doctors, lawyers, military personnel.
· The vizier was the second most
powerful official and the most trusted
advisor of the pharaohs
· Nobles were the overseers of the
lands worked by peasants, the
administrators of the pharaoh's
government, and were also in charge
of the military
· The nobles also became priests
who could read and write
February 13, 2015
In the next class were the Scribes who were taught how to read and
write. Their writing is known as hieroglyphics. Many times the job of
the scribe was passed down from generation to generation in the same
family. Scribes were exempt from any manual labor. They kept the
official records for the pharaoh's government.
February 13, 2015
In the same class as scribes in ancient Egyptian society
were the merchants and skilled workers.
Some of these workers were:
·
·
·
·
·
Sculptors
Rock cutters
Carpenters
Goldsmiths
Painters
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Egyptians/pyramids.htm
Link to British Museum
Trades page: Story and
Explore
February 13, 2015
The largest class in ancient Egypt consisted
of the farmers and slaves.
· Most of the farmers grew crops
· Others did labor such as building
roads and temples
· Men and boys worked in fields
irrigating crops with a shaduf
· Women baked bread, brewed beer
and spun thread
· A person could rise to a higher social
class through service to the pharaoh
February 13, 2015
The lowest class in ancient Egypt
were the slaves who were
commonly prisoners of war.
· The slave class was a separate group that
wasn't very large
· Slaves did have limited rights. They could
own land, marry free born people, and
employ servants
· Some slaves were even granted their freedom