Chapter 5: Ancient EgyptChapter 5: Ancient Egypt

Life in Ancient EgyptLife in Ancient Egypt

Lesson 2: Day 1Lesson 2: Day 1

Work and Family LifeWork and Family Life

Work and FamilyWork and Family

Specialized JobsSpecialized Jobs Farmer produce more crops, society’s economy Farmer produce more crops, society’s economy

expands, people learn to do jobs that do not involve expands, people learn to do jobs that do not involve agriculture.agriculture.

• Scribes- people whose job it is to write and keep records.Scribes- people whose job it is to write and keep records. People took on new jobs when civilization became People took on new jobs when civilization became

more complex. more complex. Skills artisans erected buildings (houses, temples). Skills artisans erected buildings (houses, temples).

Also created pottery, incense, mats, furniture, linen Also created pottery, incense, mats, furniture, linen clothing, sandals, jewelry. clothing, sandals, jewelry.

Traveled Nile, traded with other Africans. Traveled Nile, traded with other Africans.

Work and FamilyWork and Family

Rulers and PriestsRulers and Priests Divided government into 42 provinces.Divided government into 42 provinces. Created an army to defend Egypt. Created an army to defend Egypt. Being a priest was one of the most respected Being a priest was one of the most respected

jobs to have in society. jobs to have in society. Priests followed rituals, took care of temples.Priests followed rituals, took care of temples.

• Before entering temples, priests would bath and Before entering temples, priests would bath and put on special clothing to honor gods. put on special clothing to honor gods.

Many jobs to do in temple; clean statues, Many jobs to do in temple; clean statues, changed statues clothing, fed them meals. changed statues clothing, fed them meals.

Work and FamilyWork and Family

Rulers and PriestsRulers and Priests Egyptians believed if Egyptians believed if

the gods were angry, the gods were angry, the Nile would not the Nile would not flood, and crops would flood, and crops would not grow, resulting in not grow, resulting in people dying. people dying.

Priests worked to try Priests worked to try and keep gods happy. and keep gods happy.

Hoped to keep Hoped to keep together the social and together the social and political order. political order.

Work and FamilyWork and Family

SlavesSlaves Bottom of societyBottom of society People became slaves if People became slaves if

they;they;• Owed a debtOwed a debt• Committed a crimeCommitted a crime• Captured in warCaptured in war

Freed after a period of Freed after a period of time.time.

Slaves who worked in Slaves who worked in mines could not be freed, mines could not be freed, many died from many died from exhaustion. exhaustion.

Work and FamilyWork and Family

Life for WomenLife for Women One of the best places in One of the best places in

ancient world for women.ancient world for women. Men and women were Men and women were

fairly equal; equal rights.fairly equal; equal rights. Women could manage Women could manage

their own property.their own property. Primarily took care of Primarily took care of

children, some worked children, some worked with husbands in the with husbands in the fields. fields.

Some women became Some women became government officials.government officials.

Queen Tiy

Work and FamilyWork and Family

ChildhoodChildhood Played with toys; marbles, dolls, animal Played with toys; marbles, dolls, animal

figures, and board games.figures, and board games. Played physical games with balls made of Played physical games with balls made of

leather or reeds.leather or reeds. Wealthy children went to schools run by Wealthy children went to schools run by

priests and scribes.priests and scribes. Others learned parent’s jobs.Others learned parent’s jobs. Married in their teens. Married in their teens.