Ancient Egypt Social Class and Daily Life
Ancient Egyptian Social Class A Social Class refers to a group of people who have similar wealth and income, education, or types of jobs.
Ancient Egyptian Social Class Upper Class 1. The pharaoh was at the top of the social structure. The pharaoh had absolute authority over all people. Any groups of people under the pharaoh had limited power and very few civil liberties (rights and freedoms). 2. A small group of government officials and advisors to the pharaoh called viziers were the next group in the social structure. This social class group would also include royal family.
Ancient Egyptian Social Class Middle Class 3. The next social group consisted of rich landowners, priests, nobles, and doctors. 4. Then scribes, soldiers, architects, and teachers. 5. Following would be merchants, manufacturers, craftsmen.
Ancient Egyptian Social Class Lower Class 6. At the bottom of the social classes were farmers and unskilled workers. 7. Prisoners captured in foreign wars became slaves and formed a separate lower class. 8. The class system was not rigid, meaning you could change class. Lower classes could move up because of job success or marriage. 9. Some slaves had rights too. They could inherit land, get married, and eventually be given their freedom.
Social Class Pyramid of Ancient Egypt
Apply the Info The pyramid shows the Egyptian Social Structure. The classes (groups) were based on wealth, education, and job type. Which 2 conclusions can be drawn from the information in the chart above? Circle 2 answers. A. B. C. D. Most of the population of people in Ancient Egypt were Viziers. Craftsmen often became Priests in Egyptian Society Pharaoh s held authority over all other groups in Egyptian Society. Nobles and Priests had the same amount of education.
The Family Unit 1. The father headed the family and made most decisions. Upon his death, the oldest son became head of the family. 2. Eventually, women had the same rights as men in Ancient Egypt. 3. Family life was very important to the ancient Egyptians. Children were the heart of the family :) They were taught to be kind and honest, to respect their parents, to help with the family business, and to care for the older members of their family.
Ancient Egyptian Education System 1. Only a small percentage of boys and girls went to school, most of which were from upper class wealthy families. 2. Becoming a scribe- one who could read/ write hieroglyphics- was very important in Egyptian education. 3. Besides reading and writing, subjects taught included: medicine, math, history, science and astronomy. 4. Most boys learned the occupation of their parents. Some boys learned a trade (skill/ job specialization), but most became farmers and craftsmen. 5. Most girls learned, from their mothers and sisters, the important skills of parenting, preparing meals for large families, and the upkeep of a healthy home.
Ancient Egyptian Education System 6. Chores were divided among the family. Many daily tasks were required for survival. 7. Oftentimes, men did the laundry and collected water because these chores were done at the river. This job could be dangerous due to Nile Crocodiles and hippos.
Foods of Ancient Egypt Vegetables: onions, garlic, leeks, lettuce, cabbage, radishes, and cucumbers They ate a lot of grains, beans, chickpeas, and lentils. Fruits: dates, figs, grapes, raisins, pomegranates Poor families sometimes ate dried fish, but only wealthy families ate meat frequently. Meats eaten were beef, goat, sheep, ducks, geese, doves, and pigeons
Foods of Ancient Egypt Main staple of their diet: BREAD! Egyptians ground grain between stones Stone particles were often baked into the bread, wearing down their teeth Trade with Mediterranean civilizations expanded diets to include: plums, olives (olive oil), watermelon, and apples
Medicine in Ancient Egypt Practiced both medical and spiritual healing. Priest Physicians were the highest ranking in their class and had more knowledge of magic and spiritual healing. Regular doctors had knowledge of anatomy and disease. Doctors specialized in one type of illness or injury area. Some women were doctors. When the pharaoh traveled around Egypt with his physician or during times of war, the pharaoh paid for any medical costs of people treated.
Surgery in Ancient Egypt -Dental cures: filled cavities but very rarely removed teeth -Prosthetics were first used -Ancient Egyptians had versions of pincers, forceps, spoons, saws, hooks, and knives, all of which are still used in modern hospitals -bandages were mixed with willow leaves that prevented inflammation -mummification
Weird Medicine in Ancient Egypt Burn? Place a dead frog on the affected area that has been fermented in yeast and warmed in goat dung Crocodile bite? Hold a slab of raw meat in place with bandages soaked in honey Splinter? Soak it in an ointment made from the skull of a fish cooked in oil Cold or Flu? Try a mixture of mashed mice and pureed poop
Beauty Products in Ancient Egypt Both men and women wore eye makeup to protect from the sun. Egyptian women wore lip paint and blush made from a powder and water mix. Creams and lotions were made from animal and vegetable fat. This protected from the hot, dry weather. Wealthy men and women wore jewelry such as: earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, armbands, and anklets. Wealthy men and women often wore wigs made of human hair or wool that was held in place by beeswax.
Red Ocher for lipstick & blush Galenda & Malachite for eye makeup Beauty Products Crushed up beetle wings used for eyeshadow
Ancient Egypt Vocab Packet Work on your vocab packet for the rest of class. Fill in the definition and draw a picture. Notes to reference: -Geography Flipbook -Geography Notes -Economy Notes -Daily Life Notes