Daily Life

Social Pyramid

During the early days of ancient Egypt history, depending on what he or she did for a living, a person would be placed in a specific position or rank in society. The most powerful person would be the pharaoh that was at the top of the pyramid. After the pharaoh, there would be the government officials and below them, the craftworkers. At the bottom of the pyramid were the farmers, peasants and captured people who made trhe largest part of the society. Solidiers made up a large part of the pharaohs army and Syrian princes joined the rank of government officials.

Slavery in Egypt

People at the lowest level were were also those forced into slavery. Peasants usually worked the farms but if they needed additional workers, people that were enslaved were called in. These people did some of the hradest work that needed to be done. Egyptians also bought enslaved Syrians like they would buy cattle or cloth.

Farm and Cities

Egyptians lived on farms and were like small worlds of their own. Farmers grew and harvested crops, herders tended cattle and chickens, bakers made wheat and baked bread, brewers made beer from beer and barley. Most of these productswere taxed to the pharaoh.

Cities in Egypt

Craftworkers in egyptian cities lived in small, mud-brick homes. One example of a household showed an entrance to a house that was a workshop, then there was a samll living room with two tiny rooms. They lived in similiar conditions to farmers.

Children in Egypt

Children that were both rich or poor often played games including spin tops and had favorite pets like monkeys, cats and dogs. They also played in canals. The amount of time that kids got to play depended on what their parents did for a living. Kids also helped scattered seeds. Sons of people in government became their father's assistant. Some children wouls even go to scribe school.