Ancient Egypt Social Pyramid

Government Officials

• Vizier served as chief judge

• Chief treasurer collected taxes (goods rather than money)

• General of armies advised the pharaoh on war

• Government officials lived a life of luxury

Priests• Priests followed many

rules such as bathing many times a day

• Priests had different jobs such as advising the pharaoh and supervising ceremonies

• Priests supervised the important burial rituals including embalming dead bodies

• Women could be priestesses and were considered equal to men

Scribes• Becoming a scribe

was one way men could rise in social class

• Scribe school 12 yrs or more

• Life in scribe school difficult

• Scribes used reed pens, papyrus paper, writing tablets and ink wells

Artisans• Artisans were

carpenters, jewelers, leather and metal workers, painters, sculptors, potters, weavers

• Sometimes difficult work

• Artisans led simple lives

• Artisans rarely received recognition for work

Peasants

• Peasant life revolved around 3 seasons: flooding, planting and harvest

• Peasants often sang songs in fields

• Peasants life very simple

• During harvest, could keep some grain, but could also be beaten for poor harvest