Egyptian Class Structure
Table of Contents
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2.
3.
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7.
Introduction: The classes of
Egypt
Pharaohs, Government
Officials, and Soldiers
Scribes, Merchants, and
Artisans
Farmers
Slavery
Impact of Classes on Egypt
and the World
Conclusion: Summary
The Classes of Egypt
• The Classes of Egypt can be represented by
a pyramid:
Class Structure of Egypt
Pharaohs, Government Officials,
and Soldiers
•
•
•
The Pharaoh was the supreme ruler of Egypt. He held possession of all the
land, and was considered a god embodied on the earth. No laws had to be
written because all the commands that he spoke were followed by the
Egyptians.
Government officials were the Pharaoh’s advisers. They enforced laws,
oversaw construction of pyramids and tombs, pleased the gods, found trade
opportunities and collected taxes.
Soldiers took part in warfare and trade missions. Egypt’s soldiers helped by
expanding and gaining more territory.
Scribes, Merchants, and Artisans
Scribes:
•
Recorded the deeds of the Pharaoh. This educated class kept record of
supplies, had power to fulfill duties of viziers and could write laws in order to
enforce them.
Merchants:
•
Referred to as Crafts people, merchants gained money depending on the
amounts of objects they would create and sell. They looked no different than
commoners in Egypt.
Artisans:
•
This class was part of the Egyptian working class. Though they were not self
supporting in terms of agriculture, they did have to work for their food.
Farmers
• Farmers were
essential for Ancient
Egyptian Economy
• The farmers provided
food for all classes,
including the slaves
that (apparently)
worked on the Great
Pyramid
Farmers Cont.
• Farmers were a part of
the lower classes, aka:
The Working Class.
• Farmers were one of
the classes that, when
they fell on hard
times, sold themselves
into slavery.
Farmers Cont.
• Self supporting, the
farmers of ancient Egypt
relied on the receding
floodwaters of the Nile.
The departure of the water
created fresh fertile soil
that was ideal for
agriculture. They
harvested their crops
(which were mainly
grains) with primitive
wooden ploughs. Farmers
were the ultimate support
of ancient Egyptian
society and are arguably
the most crucial class.
Slavery in Egypt
There were two types of slaves: Foreign and
Domestic.
DOMESTIC slaves were
Egyptian. They were
generally treated better,
and could also be freed by
their owners.
FOREIGN slaves were
people who were captured
in war and sold by
Merchants
Slavery in Egypt Cont.
Domestic slaves were generally people who
fell on hard times or were born into slavery
(their parents were slaves).
Slavery in Egypt Cont.
The Hebrew (Israelite) Slaves
The traditional biblical story states that the
Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt for four
hundred years. The Torah book of Exodus tells us
that the Hebrews left Egypt at the time of a
pharaoh identified as Rameses II. The Hebrews
originally moved to Egypt due to a famine in
their native Canaan, and eventually permanently
settled there. The Pharaoh came to see their
presence as a threat to his Kingdom, so he
enslaved them. The departure from Egypt (led
by Moses) is called the Exodus and remains an
important event in Jewish history. The Hebrews
then found themselves at Mount Sinai where
Moses received the Torah from G-d.
Slavery in Egypt cont.
Prisoners of War
The warrior king Tuthmosis brought
the New Kingdom to its greatest
extent by conquering the entire Levant
and establishing a frontier on the
upper Euphrates.
In Africa, Egyptian power extended
into Nubia as far south as Napata.
Prisoners of war either became slaves,
or were forced into Military service.
Impact of Classes on Egypt and the
World
The Egyptian classes, like all
class structures, acted as the
foundation of their society.
Every facet in the hierarchy
performed a specific task in
their society that assisted its
ultimate success.
Although we do not have
Pharaohs and we don’t keep
slaves, we can look to ancient
Egypt for comparison to our
own society and learn from
their advantages and
disadvantages.
Conclusion
• Egyptian society
consisted of eight main
classes.
• The Pharaoh was the
King of all and the
slaves had nothing to
their name.
• The Egyptian hierarchy
was essential for its
society to function
successfully.
Bibliography
•
•
•
•
Morrison, Martha. Brown, Stephen F. Judaism: World Religions. Facts on File.
New York, NY. 1991. 13 Oct. 2006. Pg.87
Haywood, John. The Encyclopaedia of Ancient Civilizations of the Near East
and Mediterranean. ME Sharpe Inc. Armonk, NY. 1997. 13 Oct. 2006. Pg 456
Haberman, Arthur. Civilizations. Gage. Vancouver, Toronto, Halifax, Calgary,
London. 1994. 18 Oct. 2006.
McGraw Hill-Ryerson. Echoes From the Past: World History to the 16th
Century. McGraw Hill-Ryerson Limited. 2001. 18. Oct 2006.
Discussion Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Do you think the social hierarchy was effective in
Ancient Egyptian society?
On our hierarchy we placed the scribes below the
soldiers, however on some hierarchies the scribes are
above the soldiers. Which do you believe is more correct
and why?
Do you think the education provided to the upper class
gave them an advantage (more power) or do you believe
all their power was simply because they were born with
it?
Which classes do you believe attributed to the building
of the Great Pyramid, and how many slaves do you
personally believe assisted in its construction, if any?