The ancient Egyptian society consisted of a social pyramid,
a hierarchical structure with absolute power residing in the Head of the pyramid which included the following social classes:
Top of Page
Video: Egyptian Social Classes by William Jung 6A
VIDEO
A Keynote Presentation by William Jung about Ancient Egypt's Social Classes....
Cultural Identity
- were precious to ancient Egyptians, great rejoicing always followed the birth of a baby - Elite Egyptians cared about their appearance and clothing which indicated their social status - very high infant mortality rate and low life expectancy - Small scale commerce in the hands of ordinary men and their wives - Strong emphasis on the nuclear family unit - Most ceremonies were cultic, rather than civil - When Egyptians evolved from hunters to settled farmers, a revolution occurred in food production and diet. - The typical house was square in shape and consisted of at least three rooms - contracts were seen as a means of regulating the transfer of property - Sexual behaviors for both men and women were restricted by society
- games were practiced widely by the general population for fitness and entertainment - Compared to other areas of the ancient world, they held stronger social positions and expanded legal rights.
Top of Page
Poll: Which of the following Pharaohs in your view represent the height of central power and authority?
Timeline of Social Developments
Dynastic Period
Social Developments
Early Dynastic Period
Formation of the Social pyramid - a hierarchical structure with power residing in a headman who was believed to be able to control the Nile flood. The headman's power rested on his reputation as a "rainmaker Pharaoh ". The Social pyramid developed during the Early Dynastic Period remained virtually intact and changed little over the centuries
Old Kingdom
Strong Pharaohs commanded great resources, and built the most elaborate pyramids
1st Intermediate
Nobility Power - country's bureaucratic authority was now in the hands of local officialsWeak Pharaohs
Middle Kingdom
Powerful Viziers Pharaohs relied on close allies rather than Nobles which previously challenged the central authorityEnd Nobility Power
2 Intermediate
Asiatic immigration of Hyksos Egyptians were subjected for the first time to foreign influences and technologies
New Kingdom
18th dynasty Strong Queens - some women such as Hatshepsut raised to power for the first time, others were deified such as Nefertari and Nefertiti 19th dynasty slavery increased from captured territories. a central army was formed with large numbers of mercenary soldiers. Strong military commanders from not Royal blood raised to power such as Ramses 1 and Horemheb
20th dynasty strong Priests - at the end of this dynasty the High Priests of Amun at Thebes became the effective
de facto rulers of Upper Egypt
3rd Intermediate
Disunity and Libyan settlement in Egypt
Late Kingdom
Nubia assimilated the Egyptian cultureThey adopted Egyptian customs, beliefs, religion , and kingship in their own culture They adapted the hieroglyphic script for writing their own language Amun became the state gods of Nubia
During this period there was a large influx of foreigners into Egypt. Phoenicians came as traders ; Greeks and Carians came as mercenaries. Immigrants from the Near East, Libya, the Aegean, Nubia , and elsewhere settled in Egypt
2 Persian
Persians rule the country through local representatives based at Memphis . They established juridical guides for Egypt published in both in the demotic Egyptian script and Aramaic.
Ptolemaic Period
High officials were Greek, while local administration remained in Egyptian hands Greek became the official language of the government . Demotic, however, was still used by the majority of the Egyptians and used in lesser administrative offices Prominence of women and Queens Increase in slavery
Scientists become important members of society
