Explain how your civilisation was governed and how work was done
Every civilisation is built upon rules and regulations. In ancient Egypt, government revolved heavily around a single figure, the Pharaoh, who the people believed to be a reincarnation of a god. This status basically granted the pharaoh (who was, in almost all cases, a man) virtually limitless power and control over his subjects.
A good number of the people carrying out the Pharaoh's decrees where priests and holy men. This group formed their own social class as they were given special treatment before other citizens and were a kind of nobility in their own right.
The government structure of ancient Egypt involved other officials, including viziers, army commanders, chief treasurers, minister of public works, tax collectors, all of whom answered directly to the pharaoh. There were also governors of specific pieces of land who answered to the vizier.
The Vizier, for example, received reports from every top official every day. Every day, the Vizier gave Pharaoh a concise report on what was happening all over Egypt.
A good number of the people carrying out the Pharaoh's decrees where priests and holy men. This group formed their own social class as they were given special treatment before other citizens and were a kind of nobility in their own right.
The government structure of ancient Egypt involved other officials, including viziers, army commanders, chief treasurers, minister of public works, tax collectors, all of whom answered directly to the pharaoh. There were also governors of specific pieces of land who answered to the vizier.
The Vizier, for example, received reports from every top official every day. Every day, the Vizier gave Pharaoh a concise report on what was happening all over Egypt.
How were decisions made, who made them and how did they get to their position of power?
People have always referred to a pyramid being a visual metaphor to help describe the social structures of Ancient Egypt. A persons position in the social pyramid was determined by birth circumstances such as class, gender and race, and the relationship among social groups were determined by their occupations.
The Ancient Egyptians had five basic social classes. At the very top of the pyramid were the royal family, consisting or the Pharaoh or King along with his wife and children. Below them were the educated and elite such as generals, scribes, and high priests comprising 5% of the population. The middle class consisting of mostly merchants and craftsmen made up 10-15% of the population. Then there were the skilled labourers which included mostly farmers and foot soldiers. And finally at the bottom of the pyramid were the peasants and manual workers which would include servants, quarrymen, and some foreign slaves.
Ancient Egypt was ruled by a very small rich upper class who enjoyed power and wealth while the large masses of Egyptian workers and peasants struggled to survive. The ruling class depended on a social system of administrators who organised the work force, managed resources and taxed the surplus production. For their services, these government officials received favours and could rise to the highest ranks in the administration.
Because the people of Egypt believed that their pharaohs were gods, they entrusted their rulers with many responsibilities. Protection was at the top of the list. 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.
The Ancient Egyptians had five basic social classes. At the very top of the pyramid were the royal family, consisting or the Pharaoh or King along with his wife and children. Below them were the educated and elite such as generals, scribes, and high priests comprising 5% of the population. The middle class consisting of mostly merchants and craftsmen made up 10-15% of the population. Then there were the skilled labourers which included mostly farmers and foot soldiers. And finally at the bottom of the pyramid were the peasants and manual workers which would include servants, quarrymen, and some foreign slaves.
Ancient Egypt was ruled by a very small rich upper class who enjoyed power and wealth while the large masses of Egyptian workers and peasants struggled to survive. The ruling class depended on a social system of administrators who organised the work force, managed resources and taxed the surplus production. For their services, these government officials received favours and could rise to the highest ranks in the administration.
Because the people of Egypt believed that their pharaohs were gods, they entrusted their rulers with many responsibilities. Protection was at the top of the list. 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.
How was power distributed? Did men and women have equal rights and responsibilities?
Egyptian men and women had the same legal rights but unequal social standings.
And although they were allowed to participate in business and could own land, women were expected to obey their fathers and husbands.
Some people nowadays seem to think that ancient Egyptian women lived in an almost ideal world of equality. This was not the case. They may have had more rights and independence than women in other ancient societies, but they were not treated as equals by men. Throughout history they had little direct influence on public affairs. Their choice of profession was limited mostly to that of mistress of the house, though some became priestesses, others entertainers and a small handful even came to rule the country, be it as regent or as pharaoh. But the life of the ordinary ancient Egyptian woman was restricted to doing household chores, though one should not forget that the options the average ancient Egyptian man had were barely more numerous. Basically women were not equal to men of the same social rank and were subjected to a stricter existence.
And although they were allowed to participate in business and could own land, women were expected to obey their fathers and husbands.
Some people nowadays seem to think that ancient Egyptian women lived in an almost ideal world of equality. This was not the case. They may have had more rights and independence than women in other ancient societies, but they were not treated as equals by men. Throughout history they had little direct influence on public affairs. Their choice of profession was limited mostly to that of mistress of the house, though some became priestesses, others entertainers and a small handful even came to rule the country, be it as regent or as pharaoh. But the life of the ordinary ancient Egyptian woman was restricted to doing household chores, though one should not forget that the options the average ancient Egyptian man had were barely more numerous. Basically women were not equal to men of the same social rank and were subjected to a stricter existence.
Who did the hard manual work, who was responsible for providing food and how did the civilisation defend itself?
Manual work was often done mostly by the ‘middle class’ who were in charge of the development of buildings for the city. For example, Craftsmen like pottery makers, leatherworkers, sculptors, painters, weavers, jewellery makers, shoe makers, tailors were very skilled workers who did a lot of manual work. Groups of craftsmen often worked together in workshops.
Another example of the manual work in Ancient Egypt was the Farmers who worked the land of the Pharaoh and nobles and were given housing, food and clothes in return. Farmers 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 — that's a lot of hay!
Slaves were usually prisoners captured in war. Slaves could be found in the households of the Pharaoh and nobles, working in mines and quarries and also in temples.
Soldiers were responsible for the defence of the country. Many second sons, including those of the Pharaoh often chose to join the army. Soldiers were allowed to share riches captured from enemies and were also rewarded with land for their service to the country.
Another example of the manual work in Ancient Egypt was the Farmers who worked the land of the Pharaoh and nobles and were given housing, food and clothes in return. Farmers 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 — that's a lot of hay!
Slaves were usually prisoners captured in war. Slaves could be found in the households of the Pharaoh and nobles, working in mines and quarries and also in temples.
Soldiers were responsible for the defence of the country. Many second sons, including those of the Pharaoh often chose to join the army. Soldiers were allowed to share riches captured from enemies and were also rewarded with land for their service to the country.
What link was there between their religious beliefs and their rulers?
A Pharaoh normally ascends to throne by descent and hands it down to a son. The Pharaoh was not only the King of Egypt, but the reincarnation of the God Horus. Being a reincarnation of such a powerful God gave the Pharaoh immeasurable power over its people. Rulers and religion were thus interrelated and inseparable in ancient Egypt.
How was knowledge passed on to children? Did they go to school?
Knowledge was passed onto children by education. It was the duty of the parents to educate their children, but little is known about how girls were treated. Most literary sources of this kind are instructions of fathers for their sons.
Little is known about the educational system. Most children were probably educated at home and taught the knowledge necessary to become good housewives, farmers, craftsmen or scribes by their parents. Only a small minority of privileged children, sons of scribes and noblemen destined to fill their fathers' positions one day, received a formal school education which included reading, writing and arithmetic. Sometimes their sisters would be taught too as quite a few women are known to have been literate.
Because the Egyptian writing systems and notation of numbers were so complex, it caused the young students to be occasionally inattentive or event wanting to abandon school altogether, which infuriated their teachers.
Knowledge was acquired by rote. Texts were learned by heart, copied time and time again on any available material with a flat and smooth surface: silvers or stone, pot shreds, pieces of wood, and papyrus. Many ancient texts have survived only in this form of pupils' exercises with all the mistakes schoolboys forced to do boring tasks are likely to make.
Little is known about the educational system. Most children were probably educated at home and taught the knowledge necessary to become good housewives, farmers, craftsmen or scribes by their parents. Only a small minority of privileged children, sons of scribes and noblemen destined to fill their fathers' positions one day, received a formal school education which included reading, writing and arithmetic. Sometimes their sisters would be taught too as quite a few women are known to have been literate.
Because the Egyptian writing systems and notation of numbers were so complex, it caused the young students to be occasionally inattentive or event wanting to abandon school altogether, which infuriated their teachers.
Knowledge was acquired by rote. Texts were learned by heart, copied time and time again on any available material with a flat and smooth surface: silvers or stone, pot shreds, pieces of wood, and papyrus. Many ancient texts have survived only in this form of pupils' exercises with all the mistakes schoolboys forced to do boring tasks are likely to make.
Could the people become more powerful over their lifetimes or were they each born into a position that didn’t change?
People who were born into a social class usually stayed in it till death. Wealth, social status and even careers were inherited. The individual's roles in life heavily depended on his/her family's class. Although, Social mobility was not impossible.
A small number 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.
Not unlike other ancient or modern societies, the only possible ways for people of so called low birth to move upwards in the social structures of ancient Egypt were skill, literacy and a military career. Peasants could have their sons learn a trade apprenticed by priests or by artisans. Boys who learned reading, writing and arithmetic could become scribes and work in the government. Besides this basic knowledge they could learn a profession, such as architecture, medicine and engineering and greatly improve their social status.
A small number 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.
Not unlike other ancient or modern societies, the only possible ways for people of so called low birth to move upwards in the social structures of ancient Egypt were skill, literacy and a military career. Peasants could have their sons learn a trade apprenticed by priests or by artisans. Boys who learned reading, writing and arithmetic could become scribes and work in the government. Besides this basic knowledge they could learn a profession, such as architecture, medicine and engineering and greatly improve their social status.