Egyptian Social Structure

996 Words2 Pages

Egypt had many intricate structures that have made history, but the most important of the designs is their social structure. The society of Egypt was structured as a pyramid with the pharaoh at the top. The elite part of society contains the nobles, priests, viziers, and government officials. Next, soldiers and military are used for protection and to keep order throughout the kingdom. The scribes record and keep records about the kingdom. Merchants, artisans, and farmers are a large section of the pyramid. They supply the kingdom with food, money, and jobs. Last, slaves and servants are their to help and support the people above them. Each part of society has their role to benefit the kingdom as a whole. The pharaoh is at the top of the pyramid and must control all of society. The pharaoh was the supreme ruler of Egypt. The people believed the pharaoh was a god among men. He had a divine contract among the god to which he would build monuments to them, and in return the gods would protect Egypt and regulate the flooding of the Nile River (“Egypt, Ancient: Social Organization”, 2004). The contract of the gods came as a great responsibility to the pharaohs. They must keep order of their subjects and the records. Pharaohs proclaimed laws and duties to citizens. Egyptian Social Structure says that the laws were enacted at the discretion of the the pharaoh (2013). Also, pharaohs must control the surplus of food and the Nile River in order to remain the supreme ruler. The pharaohs would proclaim taxes to benefit the entire the kingdom. The surplus of food was maintained by the lower classes, such as the farmers paying grain for their taxes (“Egyptian Social Structure”, 2013). This would help the compensate food for the kingdom in c... ... middle of paper ... ...rading was a very special need in ancient Egypt. The Nile was the source of transportation for the people and trading from different countries. “Permission to trade on a significant scale in Egypt and certainly abroad came from the administration” (“Egyptian Social Structure”, 2013). Works Cited Egypt. (2012). In Cultural Sociology of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Retrieved from http://proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/login?url=http://www.credoreference.com/entry/sagecsme/egypt/1 Egypt, Ancient: Social Organization. (2004). In Encyclopedia of African History. Retrieved from http://proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/login?url=http://www.credoreference.com/entry/routafricanhistory/egypt_ancient_social_organization Egyptian Social Structure. (2013). Retrieved November 22, 2013, from Ancient Civilizations Online Textbook website: http://www.ushistory.org/civ/3b.asp

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