Transcript Egypt`s Social Class

THE OLD KINGDOM
Unit Three
Lesson Two
EGYPT’S SOCIAL CLASS
1. Draw and fill in a pyramid showing the social
classes of Egypt.
Pharaoh and family
Vocabulary: Nobles –
People from rich and
powerful families
Priests, army commanders,
nobles
Traders, artisans, shopkeepers
Farmers and herders
Unskilled workers
EGYPT’S SOCIAL CLASS
2. Fill in the chart comparing the lives of the Egyptian family
members.
• Men:
– Head of family
• Women:
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Could own property
Buy and sell goods
Make wills
Get divorced
More rights than women in other civilizations
Upper class could perform ceremonies
EGYPT’S SOCIAL CLASS
2. Fill in the chart comparing the lives of the Egyptian
family members.
• Children:
– Few went to school
– Daughters learned to run a house
– Boys learned father’s trade
– Has time for fun and game
PHARAOHS
3. List several facts about how an Egyptian Pharaoh was
viewed and the expectations of him as a ruler.
• Viewed:
– belong to the gods
– absolute power over people and land
– owned all the land
PHARAOHS
3. List several facts about how an Egyptian Pharaoh was
viewed and the expectations of him as a ruler.
• Expectations:
– Build and maintain dams and irrigation systems
– Carry out rituals to benefit the kingdom
– Make trade profitable
– Avoid wars
– Build building for storage
– Blamed for bad time and bad harvests
Vocabulary: Pharaoh –
Leader of Egypt
PHARAOHS
4. Why did the people serve the Pharaoh
so willingly?
– Believed the unity of the kingdom depended
on a strong leader
– Believed the Pharaoh was the son of the God
Re
THE GODS
5. What type of religion was practiced by
the Egyptians?
– Polytheism – worship of many gods
6. What was the book of the dead?
– Book of spells Egyptian were suppose to
learn in order to be granted life after death
Vocabulary:
Deities – gods
THE AFTERLIFE
7. What did the Egyptians believe about
the afterlife?
– happy place
– better than life on earth
– people are all young and healthy
– Ka – persons life force
Vocabulary: Afterlife –
life after death
THE AFTERLIFE
8. List a few fact about the burial practices of
the Egyptians?
body has to be prepared before buried
preserved the bodies for a connection to afterlife
Used embalming to prevent decay
Wrapped bodies in cloth (mummy)
Wealthy people could afford mummies
Poor people were buried in desert and preserved
naturally
Vocabulary: mummy –
specially treated bodies
Vocabulary: embalming –
wrapped in cloth
a way of preserving a body
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THE PYRAMIDS
9. Explain how the pyramids built during the
Old Kingdom honored the Pharaohs?
– Size of pyramid matched the Pharaohs greatness
– Point represents the Pharaohs journey to the afterlife
– Made spectacular to please the Pharaohs
• happy life for all Egyptians
Vocabulary: pyramid –
large Egyptian tombs
THE PYRAMIDS
10.The largest pyramid is called the Great
Pyramid.
It is near the city of Cairo.
The pyramid was built for Khufu
It is one of three still standing in Giza on the west
bank of the Nile.
COMPARING CIVILIZATIONS
• Social Class:
Mesopotamia
• Priest and Kings at the top
Egypt
• Pharaoh and family at top
• Slaves at bottom of social class • Bottom unskilled workers
• Farmer largest group
• Farmers largest group
COMPARING CIVILIZATIONS
• Religion :
Mesopotamia
Egypt
• Polytheism
• Polytheism
• Believe gods bring good harvest
• Believe in afterlife
• Priests perform ceremonies to please
• Prepared bodies – mummy
the gods
• Built ziggurats
• Embalming to preserve bodies
• Book of the Dead
• Believe the pharaoh is a god
• Believe pharaoh brings good harvest
• Pharaoh performs ceremonies to
ensure Egyptian success
• Built pyramids
COMPARING CIVILIZATIONS
• Family:
Mesopotamia
Egypt
• Women have some right
• Women have more right
• Wealthy boys go to school to learn to
• Most children do not go to school
be scribes
• Upper class women can be
priestesses
• Men are head of household
• Some boys learn a trade or skill
• Women can run a business
• Women can own and sell slaves
• Learn trade from parents
• Have time for fun and game
• Upper class women can perform
ceremonies
• Men are head of household