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Contents
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Daily Life
Ancient Egyptian society was divided into four classes. The upper class included government officials, nobles and priests. The middle class included scribes ,skilled craftsmen, trades people, teachers, artists and soldiers. The peasants, mostly farmers, labourers and servants made up the lower class. Lastly, the slaves made up the bottom class, although compared to some countries Egypt had few slaves. The slaves were mostly foreign captives from Nubia or Asia. Work
Above A tomb painting showing men gathering the harvest. The most important business in Ancient Egypt was farming. Most of the people were peasants, who worked all day in the fields and barns. The main crops were wheat and barley, but many vegetables and some fruits were grown in gardens. Seeds were sown after the flood waters had gone down. Crops had to be watered with the help of canals and ditches. Cattle, sheep and goats gave milk and meat. Some people kept ducks and pigeons, but chickens were unknown in Ancient Egypt. During the flood season, when no farming could be done, peasants did building work on temples and pyramids.
Above Herdsmen with cattle, from a tomb painting of the New Kingdom.
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