Ancient
Egypt-The Old Kingdom
In
the social pyramid of ancient Egypt the pharaoh and those associated with
divinity were at the top, and servants and slaves made up the bottom.The Egyptians elevated some
human beings to gods. Their leaders, called pharaohs, were believed to be gods
in human form. Unlike, modern Egypt which is more democratic the Pharaoh was
born into his position. Egyptians believed that their pharaohs were gods, they
entrusted their rulers with many responsibilities including watching over the law courts and temples.
The Pharoah was also an army leader and controlled trade expeditions.The pharaoh directed the army in case of a foreign threat or an internal conflict. All laws were enacted at the discretion of the pharaoh. Each farmer paid taxes in the form of grain, which were stored in the pharaoh's warehouses. This grain was used to feed the people in the event of a famine.No single person could manage all these duties without assistance. The pharaoh appointed a chief minister called a vizier as a supervisor. Military officers often filled priestly positions and were officials of the royal administration as well.The vizier ensured that taxes were collected.Working with the vizier were scribes who kept government records. These high-level employees could read and write which was a rare skill in Ancient Egypt. Soldiers fought in wars or quelled domestic uprisings. During long periods of peace, soldiers also supervised the peasants, farmers, and slaves who were involved in building such structures as pyramids and palaces.Skilled workers such as physicians and craftspersons made up the middle class. Craftspersons made and sold jewelry, pottery, papyrus products, tools, and other useful things.Naturally, there were people needed to buy goods from artisans and traders. These were the merchants and storekeepers who sold these goods to the public.At the bottom of the social structure were slaves and farmers. Slavery became the fate of those captured as prisoners of war. In addition to being forced to work on building projects, slaves toiled at the discretion of the pharaoh or nobles.armers tended the fields, raised animals, kept canals and reservoirs in good order, worked in the stone quarries, and built the royal monuments. Farmers paid taxes that could be as much as 60 percent of their yearly harvest. Though it is uncommonly known,social mobility was not unheard of and occasionally small numbers of peasants and farmers moved up the economic ladder. Families saved money to send their sons to village schools to learn trades. These schools were run by priests or by artisans. Boys who learned to read and write could become scribes, then go on to gain employment in the government. It was possible for a boy born on a farm to work his way up into the higher ranks of the government.
The Pharoah was also an army leader and controlled trade expeditions.The pharaoh directed the army in case of a foreign threat or an internal conflict. All laws were enacted at the discretion of the pharaoh. Each farmer paid taxes in the form of grain, which were stored in the pharaoh's warehouses. This grain was used to feed the people in the event of a famine.No single person could manage all these duties without assistance. The pharaoh appointed a chief minister called a vizier as a supervisor. Military officers often filled priestly positions and were officials of the royal administration as well.The vizier ensured that taxes were collected.Working with the vizier were scribes who kept government records. These high-level employees could read and write which was a rare skill in Ancient Egypt. Soldiers fought in wars or quelled domestic uprisings. During long periods of peace, soldiers also supervised the peasants, farmers, and slaves who were involved in building such structures as pyramids and palaces.Skilled workers such as physicians and craftspersons made up the middle class. Craftspersons made and sold jewelry, pottery, papyrus products, tools, and other useful things.Naturally, there were people needed to buy goods from artisans and traders. These were the merchants and storekeepers who sold these goods to the public.At the bottom of the social structure were slaves and farmers. Slavery became the fate of those captured as prisoners of war. In addition to being forced to work on building projects, slaves toiled at the discretion of the pharaoh or nobles.armers tended the fields, raised animals, kept canals and reservoirs in good order, worked in the stone quarries, and built the royal monuments. Farmers paid taxes that could be as much as 60 percent of their yearly harvest. Though it is uncommonly known,social mobility was not unheard of and occasionally small numbers of peasants and farmers moved up the economic ladder. Families saved money to send their sons to village schools to learn trades. These schools were run by priests or by artisans. Boys who learned to read and write could become scribes, then go on to gain employment in the government. It was possible for a boy born on a farm to work his way up into the higher ranks of the government.
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