Daily life in ancient Egypt was organized into a strict social hierarchy. At the top were government officials and priests, who lived lives of luxury. Scribes and artisans constituted the middle classes, engaging in respected professions like record keeping, crafting, and art. Peasants made up the lowest and largest class, working as farmers and builders and living with the fewest comforts as they endured hard labor and famine. Each social class played essential roles and had distinct daily routines defined by their work, family obligations, education, and living standards.
4. LIFE IN CLASSES
Same class as parents
Usually stayed in same class
Cherished family life
Children were highly valued
5. ROLES MEN VS. WOMEN
Head of household Managed the home
Supported family Raised children
Trained sons Noblewomen had servants
or slaves to help
In charge of egyptian
society More freedom & rights
9. DUTIES OF PRIESTS
Advised pharaoh
Oversaw all religious ceremonies
Temple priests
Advice and healing Priests
Priestesses equal to male priests
Purification to enter sanctuary
10. BURIAL PRACTICES
Priests special role
Embalming
Canopic jars
Natron
Sarcophagus
12. SCRIBE SCHOOLS
Only males Practiced writing on wood,
stone & pottery
Started at age 5
Wrote on papyrus when
Came from artisan or skilled
merchant families
Not an easy life
Spent 12 years or more
learning hieroglyphs Long days of learning
Memorized over 700 Beatings were common
hieroglyphs
13. SCRIBE WORK
Keep records Tools
Census Sharpened Reeds
Taxes Papyrus Paper
Legal Tablet
Military Ink Wells
14. ARTISANS
Below Scribes in Social
Pyramid
Highly skilled laborers
Not well respected
Created beautiful art
Most were men
16. ARTISAN
DAILY LIFE & WORK
Modest homes
Worked for 10 days
Dependent on employers
Often went hungry
Royal projects
View as common laborers
17. PEASANTS
Lowest & largest class in
social pyramid
Considered unskilled
Society depended on their
work
Supplied food
Built monuments
18. LIFE OF PEASANTS
Revolved around the Nile River & 3 Seasons
Flooding Season - June to September
Planting Season
Harvest Season - March
Sang songs to pass time
19. DAILY LIVES OF
PEASANTS
Fewest comforts
Simple houses
Famine
Hard work
Enjoy games
Rewards & punishments
21. REFERENCES
Canopic Jars - http://www.ancient-egypt.org/index.html
Frey, W. (2004). History Alive! The Ancient World. (L.
Alavosus, Ed.) Palo Alto, CA: Teachers' Curriculum
Institute.
