Ancient Egyptian Culture Section 4 Social Classes Egyptian

Ancient Egyptian Culture Section 4

Social Classes Egyptian society resembled a Pyramid. 1 st Top: o Pharaoh. 2 nd: Small Upper Class. o Priests. o Members of the Pharaohs court. o Nobles. 3 rd Middle Class: o Merchants o Skilled Workers. 4 th Bottom: o Largest class. o The Peasants.

Social Classes Peasants: o Did farm labor mostly. o Others built roads and temples. Social Climb: o A person could rise to a higher class. o Through service to the Pharaoh.

Slavery Formed a separate class. Not large. Made up of: o Prisoners captured in war. Had Rights: o Could own personal items. o Inherit land from their masters. o Could also be set free.

Checking for Understanding How was Egyptian Society Organized? Was organized by a class structure that resembled a pyramid. Top: Pharaoh. 2 nd: Small Upper class o made of priests, nobles and members of the Pharaohs court. 3 rd: Middle class o Merchants and skilled workers. 4 th Peasants: Largest class.

A New System of Writing Hieroglyphs: o Pictures and other written symbols that stood for Ideas, things, or sounds. Pictures could stand for: o Ideas or things. o Ex: • Picture of two legs stood for the word “Go” • Drawing of an Owl stood for the “m” sound.

Unlocking a Mystery. After A. D. 400 Egypt's meaning of their hieroglyphic writing system was lost. 1799: o Large Black Stone discovered by the Nile. o Had 3 different types of writing on it. • Upper part: Hieroglyphs. • Middle: Egyptian script called Demotic. • Lower: Greek Letters. Named: The Rosetta Stone. 1820’s: o French Scholar Jean Francois Champollion completed the

Checking for Understanding What was the significance of the Rosetta Stone? It was important because it translated hieroglyphs into other languages so modern people could learn what the hieroglyphs meant.

Keeping Track of Time Mathemat ics Medicin e Astronomers: • Scientists who study the stars and other objects in the sky. • Egyptian Farmers needed to predict when the floods would occur. Used basic Mathematics (+ - X /), simple Fractions, and Geometry to cut stone and find area. Religion and Medicine were closely related. Doctors: • Were specially trained Priests. • Used Religious practices and knowledge of illnesses to heal the sick. Mummification:

Checking for Understanding Why was it important for the Egyptians to figure out the length of their year? They needed to know when the water of the Nile would flood.