Concept 4.2 Egyptian Society
Roles of craftsmen
stone carvers, potters, sculptors, metal workers, jewelers, weavers
Responsibilities of soldiers
Fought on foot using spears, shields, and axes. Rode on chariots and shot arrows. During times of peace they dug canals or built temples.
Horus
God of the sky and of the pharaohs. Pharaohs were believed to be Horus on earth.
Mummification
The preservation of dead bodies by embalming and wrapping them in cloth. Egyptians believed they needed to preserve bodies for the underworld.
Roles of government officials
Vizier, chief of treasury, general of the armies, governors, mayors
Role of soldiers
Well-trained to expand borders and maintain control of the people
Role of priests
appointed by the pharaoh, passed down their job through families, women could be this role too
Responsibilities of priests
carry out rituals, preform healings, lead ceremonies, give advice to people and pharaoh. This group tied civic life to religious life.
Responsibilities of government officials
collected taxes, served as judges, and oversaw building projects
Vizier (government official)
gave advice to the pharaoh and acted as the chief judge
Role of farmers
lived off the land, some could OWN their land, many were peasants who worked on the pharaoh's land
Role of the Pharaoh
most powerful person in Egypt and considered a "god on Earth"
Role of scribes
official government recorders
Responsibilities of servants
worked in Egyptian households
Role of servants and slaves
Enslaved people that were considered property that could be traded or could buy their freedom. Could NOT own land.
Responsibilities of farmers
Might have built the pyramids, temples, and other large projects. Provided food for all of Egypt.
Responsibilities of the Pharaoh
Reaffirmed order of society (ma'at), ran the kingdom, cared for Egyptian people
Responsibilities of scribes
Recorded court cases, calculated taxes, wrote letters between gov. officials, and kept official histories
Dynasty
Series of rulers from the same family
Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt
These were once two separate kingdoms, in what would become known as Egypt, until they were united.
Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom
Three important periods in ancient Egypt.
Role of merchants
Traded for goods not found in Egypt. Could become very wealthy.
Responsibilities of merchants
Traded gold, jewelry, clothing, and rope for goods not found in Egypt like elephant tusks and cedar wood.
Responsibilities of slaves
Worked as laborers in the fields. Had dangerous jobs below the ground in copper or gold mines.
Responsibilities of craftsmen
Worked for government officials and other wealthy Egyptians to decorate their homes and fill tombs