Egyptian life

Chapter 8

The Daily Lives of Peasants Peasants had the fewest comforts of any of the social classes. They lived in plain
houses made of mud bricks. Their furniture was sparse, often just woven mats.
The peasants’ diet was also simple. A typical daily meal might be made up of onions, cucumbers, fish, and
homemade bread. Peas and lentils were also common. Unlike the upper classes, peasants rarely ate meat. In times of
famine, they often had to boil tough papyrus plants for
food.
Peasants spent most of their lives working, but they did
have some time for fun. Men enjoyed a river game that
involved knocking each other off papyrus rafts. Holidays
were celebrated before planting and after the crops were
harvested. Peasants also took part in festivals held to
honor the Egyptian gods.
An important time of year for peasants was the end of
the harvest season. As a reward for their hard work, they
were allowed to gather up any leftover grain and keep it
for food.
But farmers could also be punished for a poor harvest.
They had to pay taxes in the form of crops. If a harvest
came up too short to pay the required tax, a farmer might
be brutally beaten.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
In this chapter, you learned about Egypt’s social pyramid. Their social class determined the daily life of
ancient Egyptians.
Government Officials This was the highest social class after the pharaoh. Many officials were nobles who inherited
their jobs, but some rose to power. Three key officials were the vizier, the chief treasurer, and the general of the
armies.
Priests Priests were powerful and respected. They advised the pharaoh, oversaw religious ceremonies, took care of
temple gods, and prepared bodies for the afterlife.
Scribes Scribes were Egypt’s official writers and record keepers. They were well paid and respected. They trained for
many years in special schools to learn hieroglyphs, Egypt’s writing symbols. Boys from several social classes could
become scribes.
Artisans These highly skilled laborers created beautiful objects but got little respect. Stone carvers were among the
most skilled and important artisans.
Peasants This lowest and largest social class grew crops that supplied food and also helped build monuments such as
the pyramids. Peasants’ lives revolved around the three seasons of the Nile River.