DAILY LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT

CHAPTER 5

LESSON 2

Surplus

The fertile land of Egypt surrounding the Nile River allowed farmers to create surpluses of food. Helped Egypt economy

expand. Allowed Egyptians to

work other jobs.

Types of jobs Scribes

Learned hieroglyphics Egyptian alphabet

Skilled artisans Traders The type of job depended on

what part of the social pyramid you belonged to. Divided Egyptian Society

Rare for one to move up Heredity

You worked in the same job your father did.

Six levels

Laborers and Slaves

Level 1 Slaves were the lowest

group in Egypt POW’s (War Prisoners)

Hard labor

Farmers

Level 2 Picked the crops that

feed Egypt.

Craftspeople and Merchants

3rd Level Craftspeople

Made the things in which the Egyptians needed.

Merchants Sold Egyptian Goods

Scribes and Government Officials

4th level Scribes

Trained to write and read hieroglyphics

Government officials Worked for the Pharaoh,

or king of Egypt

Priests and Nobles

5th level Priests

Religious leaders

Nobles Family of the Pharaoh

The Pharaoh

6th level Ruler of Egypt and all

of its people. Hereditary rule

Usually given by birth

Considered a god

Hieroglyphics

Egyptian writing system.

When it developed around 3000 B.C. 700 symbols

6000 symbols over time

Papyrus

Paper-like material Scribes wrote

hieroglyphics on them. Made from the papyrus

reed. Scrolls of papyrus

made Egypt’s first books