Name:___________KEY____________
Period:_________
Date:___________
Mrs. Schenck – World History
Social Classes Pyramid
Focus Question – What defines groups of people?
Label the social class pyramid:
Ancient Egyptian
Pharaoh
Noblemen
Middle Class
Current Social Class Terms
Upper Class, Wealthy, 1%, Elite, etc.
Middle Class, Working Class, etc.
(Upper/Lower Middle Class)
Farmers
Lower Class, Poor,
Poverty, etc.
Slaves
What is the significance of the shape of the pyramid?
The pyramid shape represents the number of people in each class. The top of the pyramid is very
small, there are a small number of people at the top. The bottom of the period is very large, so a
large number of people are in those classes. The top is also the people with the most power and
wealth, while the bottom is the people with the least.
What sorts of characteristics determine social class?
Wealth $, family (heredity), gender, citizenship, job, education, etc.
How do we “use” social classes today?
Define groups of people, in politics and government support, to move up and down in social
standing, for negative stereotyping and positive support, etc.
Focus Question – What is power, and how is it used?
Directions: Go to each station letter and follow the directions there. Put your answer in the
corresponding letter on the pyramid. Then complete your exit slip using BYOT and Socrative.
A. Pharaoh: Use the “Pharaohs” paper found at this station.
o Choose a symbol of the pharaoh’s power (ex: a crown, crook, flail, etc) and draw and label it
at the top of your pyramid.
o Look through the information in the article and answer the following questions in the box off
to the side of the pyramid:
 What god did the living pharaoh represent?
 What god did the pharaoh become when he died?
 Who was often the king’s main wife or consort?
Exit Slip: What kind of power did the pharaoh have, and how did he use it? GODS
B. Noblemen (Royalty, Viziers, and Priests): Examine the pictures of an Egyptian nobleman’s life
and home.
o DRAW the following in your pyramid: How would a nobleman/women’s life have been
different from other classes. Give at least three examples.
Exit Slip: What kind of power did the noblemen have, and how did they use it? $/LEISURE
C. Middle Class (craftsmen, merchants, scribes, soldiers): Half of you read the article about a scribe
and the other half read the article about the craftsman.
o Answer the following questions in your pyramid for BOTH groups:
 What role did scribes/craftsmen play in Egyptian society?
 Why were scribes/craftsmen important to the pharaoh?
Exit Slip: What kind of power did the middle class have AND/OR not have, and how did they
use it AND/OR were they abused by it? EDUCATION/PHARAOH
D. Farmers: A farmer’s life revolved around the Nile. Pretend you are an ancient Egyptian farmer,
and make a “calendar” for your year. Refer to the paper on farmers.
o Label each stage and write a reminder to yourself of what you (the farmer) need to do at this
time of year.
o Add little pictures like you might in your own planner to serve as reminders also.
Exit Slip: What kind of power did the farmers have AND/OR not have, and how did they use it
AND/OR were they abused by it? FOOD/ABUSED
E. Slaves: Read the paper “Slaves in Ancient Egypt”. Since most slaves were prisoners of war,
pretend you are a captured slave in Egypt. Write a brief letter home to your family describing your
life and job/duties.
Exit Slip: What kind of power did the slaves have AND/OR not have, and how did they use it
AND/OR were they abused by it? SOME PRIVILEGES/ABUSED
F. Comparison: Read the story that compares the life of a nobleman to the life of a farmer. List three
significant differences you see in the life of a noble and a farmer. With your group, talk about how
this compares to life today.
Exit Slip: None! Use this station to get caught up if you need to.
AThe LIVING pharaoh represented
PHARAOH
crook
F
Nobles had servants do the
work, and Farmers worked
hard in the fields.
Nobles had linen clothes
and sheets, and Farmers
had course clothes and
sheets they made.
Nobles had free time for
parties and plays, and
Farmers worked
constantly.
Dynasty = kingship passed down
from father to son
The king’s main wife/consort was
usually his sister.
A
B
Horus – once the pharaoh DIED,
he became an Osiris pharaoh
NOBLES
1. To entertain guests, hosts would hold great banquets.
2. A nobleman, wealthy and pampered, would often hunt
and fish by the waters of the Nile.
3. While playing board games, nobles might eat and
drink to relax.
SCRIBE
Kept records for the
pharaoh and wrote on the
walls of his tomb
CRAFTSMAN
Designed cities and
tombs/pyramids for the
pharaoh
C
INUNDATION
Off to work for pharaoh!
EMERGENCE
- Repair house
- Plant crops
picture
D
E
HARVEST
Gather crops!
picture
picture
Dear Mawat,
Don’t worry about me in Egypt. Though I miss our home in Sumer, being a prisoner of war (slave)
in Egypt could be worse. I can own a little land if I save up some money, and I can even marry a
freewoman (if she will have me!). I am off to work at the palace now!
Sincerely, Slave Steve