Name ____________________________________
Period _________________ # _________________
Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt
DIRECTIONS: Careful read the following text
In Ancient Egypt, society was divided into a number of social classes. At the very top was the allpowerful pharaoh. Pharaohs were considered to be living gods and thus commanded much power and
loyalty. Government officials belonged to the highest class on Egypt’s social pyramid, after the pharaoh. Their
job was to assist the pharaoh in his or her role as supreme leader. Next come the priests. Like government
officials, priests were powerful and highly respected. Scribes were one level below the priests. Being a scribe
was a respected and well-paid job because Egyptians considered their hieroglyphs to be sacred symbols.
Towards the bottom of the pyramid were the people who did the majority of the work. The artisans
and merchants made and sold the various goods used by Egyptians. Even lower than these workers were the
peasants, who were mostly farmers. While at the very bottom of the social order were thousands of slaves
obtained in war. Despite these clear-cut divisions, it was possible for people at all levels to move from one
class to another.
Family life was important to the ancient Egyptians. Women were respected in their roles as wives and
mothers, and children were treasured and pampered. Egyptian women also enjoyed more individual rights
than women in other ancient societies. They could own businesses and buy and sell property. Furthermore, in
Egyptian society, women were allowed to be priestesses.
Religion was also important to the ancient Egyptians. They worshiped many gods who represented the
sun and other forces of nature. They were among the first people to believe in life after death. They
attempted to preserve bodies for the afterlife through a process known as mummification. Pharaohs built
huge pyramids as special tombs where they believed their spirits could travel undisturbed to the next world.
In addition, the ancient Egyptians were a fun-loving people who enjoyed games and sporting events.
Wall paintings from tombs depict them hunting, fishing, and engaging in athletic contests. Other paintings
show them playing senit, a game similar to checkers. These same paintings give us a clear picture of the rich
Egyptian culture the lasted over 3,000 years because of its strict rule and devotion to tradition.
DIRECTIONS: Decide whether the following statements are true or false. Write T or F in each blank. If the
sentence is false, underline the sentence in the text that disproves it. Then write the number of the false
statement next to the underlined sentence that disproves it.
1. ______ A person in ancient Egypt was destined to stay in the same class for their entire life.
2. ______ Ancient Egyptian women could buy and sell property.
3. ______ Merchants made up the highest social class in ancient Egypt.
4. ______ The ancient Egyptians were monotheistic; they believed in only one god.
5. ______ Religion played an important role in ancient Egyptian society.
6. ______ The ancient Egyptians enjoyed games and other forms of amusement.
7. ______ Slaves, purchased in remote African countries, were at the very bottom of the social pyramid.
8. ______ Mummification and pyramids were related to the ancient Egyptian belief in life after death.
9. ______ Life was difficult for ancient Egyptian children.
10. ______ Pharaohs, both male and female, enjoyed supreme power and were considered gods.
Answering A Short Answer Text Dependent Question
o Pretend you are a textbook author (no personal references like “I” or “me”)
o Use your most formal writing style
o Use you highest vocabulary words
TOPIC SENTENCE
o Change the questions into a statement
o Make sure you follow the SS Light Bulb format (Setting, Subject, & Big Idea)
2 DETAILS
o Pull meaningful details from your source
o Use evidence-based terms
SNAP
o The last sentence should convince your subject the topic is important
Evidence Based Terms
Because...
On page,___ it said...
For instance...
From the reading we know that...
For example...
Based on what was read...
The author stated...
The text is evidence that...
According to the text...
Because the text states...
How did work and social roles affect the women of Ancient Egypt?
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