What were the key features of Egyptian society, and what innovations were developed?
Scribes
In ancient Egypt, not everyone got to learn how to read and write. Writing was a special skill only certain people could learn. There were people called scribes who were called upon to record useful information. The definition of scribe is “a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps keep track of records.” To become a scribe, you had to learn how. You would go to a special school where you would spend four to five years learning how to read and write in hieroglyphic and hieratic writing. Because there are many symbols in Egyptian writing, learning them all was hard work. To practice, students would copy the symbols with reed brushes dipped in ink onto sheets of papyrus. Ink was made by grounding up minerals until they were as fine as powder. Ancient Egyptians then mixed the powder with liquid to make ink.
Not everyone could become a scribe. Majority of the scribes in ancient times were the children of previous scribes. If you were the son of a scribe, you began training to become a scribe for life. Although most scribes were men in that time period, there was evidence found of some female doctors who would also learn to read medical text.
Not everyone could become a scribe. Majority of the scribes in ancient times were the children of previous scribes. If you were the son of a scribe, you began training to become a scribe for life. Although most scribes were men in that time period, there was evidence found of some female doctors who would also learn to read medical text.
Medical Advancements
Ancient Egyptians made medical advancements as well. The earliest known surgery was performed in Egypt around 2700 BC. This greatly impacted today’s world, as majority of modern patients rely on surgery. The use of surgery was formed through the process of mummification and embalming practices. These activities made the Egyptians skilled in removing certain organs, and they began to use them for medical procedures.
The Egyptians also advanced into giving prescriptions of medicine for different situations. For example, if someone living in Ancient Egypt had a dangerous leg swelling, doctors would apply yeast to the swelling area. A bad head injury was healed with a very specific procedure. In this process an experienced doctor would open a part of the skull to release the pressure.
The Egyptians also advanced into giving prescriptions of medicine for different situations. For example, if someone living in Ancient Egypt had a dangerous leg swelling, doctors would apply yeast to the swelling area. A bad head injury was healed with a very specific procedure. In this process an experienced doctor would open a part of the skull to release the pressure.
Social Structure
The society of Ancient Egyptians was organized by wealth, location, status, and class. Whatever social class a person was born into in Ancient Egypt was usually its class as long as they lived. Everything, including social status, wealth, and careers was inherited. For example, if your grandfather was a scribe, then your father would learn to be a scribe too. Eventually, you would have the same career as would your descendants.
The highest position you could hold in that time and place was the king. As ruler, he was the most powerful person. Usually a king would inherit the throne. Usually, once he became the ruler, the king was named Pharaoh. He was also considered the high priest of Egypt.
The next highest title one could obtain is the vizier. The vizier was the most powerful person in all of Egypt, next to the king. The Vizier was the king's most trusted confidant, and would assist him with anything he needed. The vizier oversaw most of the important government activity.
The next rank is a priest. Priests acted as the connection between gods and the people. Only priests were permitted to enter into the sacred temples that the gods supposedly dwelt in. They were believed to converse with one another inside the temples. The priests' role was to care for the gods and goddesses. They did not teach of their religion, or have any role in looking over the government. Each morning, the priest would go into the temple and worship the gods. First he would wash the statues of the gods. Next he would put beautiful clothing and jewels on it. Then he would give offerings of food and drink, sing his praise, and then leave for the night, sealing the door on the way out.
Scribes were right after priests. Their job was to write and keep records and government documents (see above.)
Artisans were next after scribes. They were metal workers, carpenters, stone carvers, jewelers, weavers, painters, sculptors, or potters. Artisans were just typical citizens who had jobs. Artisans was the class of a lot of citizens in ancient Egypt.
Peasants made up the bottom class. They were mostly farmers, unskilled laborers, and construction workers. They lived poorly, in the simplest homes, most poverty, and least food. The upper classes were wealthy with large diets, while sometimes the peasants had to live of papyrus, a plant used to make a substitute for paper.
Some jobs in the Egyptian society are mentioned in the social structure. Being a pharaoh, vizier, or other government official are highly respected jobs in Egypt. Scribes and artisans were desirable and more common in ancient Egypt. Lastly, peasants were a mixed bunch of unskilled people with many different jobs, like farmers and other workers, listed above.
The highest position you could hold in that time and place was the king. As ruler, he was the most powerful person. Usually a king would inherit the throne. Usually, once he became the ruler, the king was named Pharaoh. He was also considered the high priest of Egypt.
The next highest title one could obtain is the vizier. The vizier was the most powerful person in all of Egypt, next to the king. The Vizier was the king's most trusted confidant, and would assist him with anything he needed. The vizier oversaw most of the important government activity.
The next rank is a priest. Priests acted as the connection between gods and the people. Only priests were permitted to enter into the sacred temples that the gods supposedly dwelt in. They were believed to converse with one another inside the temples. The priests' role was to care for the gods and goddesses. They did not teach of their religion, or have any role in looking over the government. Each morning, the priest would go into the temple and worship the gods. First he would wash the statues of the gods. Next he would put beautiful clothing and jewels on it. Then he would give offerings of food and drink, sing his praise, and then leave for the night, sealing the door on the way out.
Scribes were right after priests. Their job was to write and keep records and government documents (see above.)
Artisans were next after scribes. They were metal workers, carpenters, stone carvers, jewelers, weavers, painters, sculptors, or potters. Artisans were just typical citizens who had jobs. Artisans was the class of a lot of citizens in ancient Egypt.
Peasants made up the bottom class. They were mostly farmers, unskilled laborers, and construction workers. They lived poorly, in the simplest homes, most poverty, and least food. The upper classes were wealthy with large diets, while sometimes the peasants had to live of papyrus, a plant used to make a substitute for paper.
Some jobs in the Egyptian society are mentioned in the social structure. Being a pharaoh, vizier, or other government official are highly respected jobs in Egypt. Scribes and artisans were desirable and more common in ancient Egypt. Lastly, peasants were a mixed bunch of unskilled people with many different jobs, like farmers and other workers, listed above.
The social classes are structured like an Egyptian pyramid-6awchistory.weebly.com
Who would you be?
If you could take the place of any person in ancient Egypt besides the pharaoh, who would you choose? The preferable choice would be the vizier. The vizier is the person with the second most power. The advantages to this are that you'd have acess to a lot of things a typical citizen wouldn't, like advising the king. Common citizens wouldn't normally have enough power to go up to the pharaoh and suggest a change in a law. The vizier, however has the complete authority to give the king advise. The vizier has the power to influence a change in law if he wanted to.
However, being a vizier in Egyptian society would take a lot of work. It is a lot of responsibility to govern the political districts and to give the king suitable advise. Also, if anyone hates the government and want to end the reign of a pharaoh, they will not only murder the king but probably the vizier as well.
However, being a vizier in Egyptian society would take a lot of work. It is a lot of responsibility to govern the political districts and to give the king suitable advise. Also, if anyone hates the government and want to end the reign of a pharaoh, they will not only murder the king but probably the vizier as well.
Familial Characteristics
Families were the center of Egyptian culture. Everyone took extreme pride in their family. The duty of the eldest son to show respect was to care for his parents in the final days before their death. After they died, they were to give them proper burials.
Some interesting characteristics in ancient Egypt are how people referred to their family. If an ancient Egyptian was talking about their mother, they could be referring to their actual mother, or their grandmother. Likewise, the word 'father' was the same as saying 'grandfather'. The terms son, grandson, and nephew (or daughter, granddaughter, and niece) were designated by any one of those words. Uncle and brother, or sister and aunt were interchangeable as well. More confusingly for people studying Egyptian language, the term sister also was used for the word wife. Scholars believe this was indicating that spouses were very closely bonded.
Some interesting characteristics in ancient Egypt are how people referred to their family. If an ancient Egyptian was talking about their mother, they could be referring to their actual mother, or their grandmother. Likewise, the word 'father' was the same as saying 'grandfather'. The terms son, grandson, and nephew (or daughter, granddaughter, and niece) were designated by any one of those words. Uncle and brother, or sister and aunt were interchangeable as well. More confusingly for people studying Egyptian language, the term sister also was used for the word wife. Scholars believe this was indicating that spouses were very closely bonded.
Egyptian Inventions
Eye Makeup
In 4000 BC, the Egyptians invented eye makeup. In that time period, makeup was not limited to women. In the upper classes, such as pharaohs and government officials, everyone would wear makeup
To create eye makeup, the ancient Egyptians combined soot with a mineral called galena. This created a black substance known as kohl. This was to make black makeup.
To tint the ointment green, combine a mineral called malachite with galena. This would give the black makeup a green tinge.
Makeup around the eyes is very popular in today's modern world. The Egyptian's invention of eye makeup greatly influenced our world today. They created a product that we still use, 5000 years later.
In 4000 BC, the Egyptians invented eye makeup. In that time period, makeup was not limited to women. In the upper classes, such as pharaohs and government officials, everyone would wear makeup
To create eye makeup, the ancient Egyptians combined soot with a mineral called galena. This created a black substance known as kohl. This was to make black makeup.
To tint the ointment green, combine a mineral called malachite with galena. This would give the black makeup a green tinge.
Makeup around the eyes is very popular in today's modern world. The Egyptian's invention of eye makeup greatly influenced our world today. They created a product that we still use, 5000 years later.
Notice the green in this Egyptian woman's
eye makeup-oregonbookreport.com
eye makeup-oregonbookreport.com
Papyrus reed-ilo.wikipedia.org
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Papyrus Sheets
Egyptians created an admirable substitute for paper around the fourth millennium BC, or 4000 BC. They used the stiff, reed-like plants that grew along the Nile to their advantage. Papyrus plants grew in marshy areas, and they held a tough interior. The Egyptians used their strong inside to make durable sheets of material to write on. Papyrus was practical, because, unlike the stone tablets they had been carving symbols into for so long, papyrus was light and easy to carry. |
The invention of papyrus sheets impacted our life today. We do not still make paper from marshy reeds, but we have been using the same idea. We, like they, use a strong, durable sheets of thin light material that can be used to write on.
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The veins from the papyrus plant are
still noticeable in this piece of papyrus paper-4.bp.blogspot.com |
Door Locks
The first door locks were exclusively for the temples. The priests would seal the doors every night so the spirits could dwell undisturbed. These first door locks were extremely basic ones, like the simple pin-tumbler block. On the door would be a hollow bolt that connected to pins that could be manipulated with a key. When the key was inserted into the bolt, it pushed upward on the pins. The pins slipped away from the bolt shaft, allowing the door to be opened.
We have taken this idea, the insertion of a key unlocking a bolt, and made it much more complex, designing keys to match only one lock.
The first door locks were exclusively for the temples. The priests would seal the doors every night so the spirits could dwell undisturbed. These first door locks were extremely basic ones, like the simple pin-tumbler block. On the door would be a hollow bolt that connected to pins that could be manipulated with a key. When the key was inserted into the bolt, it pushed upward on the pins. The pins slipped away from the bolt shaft, allowing the door to be opened.
We have taken this idea, the insertion of a key unlocking a bolt, and made it much more complex, designing keys to match only one lock.
This is a photo of an Egyptian pin-tumbler block.
http://www.smith.edu |
This is a diagram on how the Egyptian pin-tumbler block works.
wheatonlockservice.com |
Hieroglyphic Writing
The Rosetta stone was discovered in 1799. The stone was carved with three different writing systems portraying the same text. The three languages were demotic, Greek, and hieroglyphic. This was a great piece of luck, because it enabled scholars and Egyptologists to discover the hieroglyphic code. Without the stone, the details their writing reveals of the culture would be a mystery.
Later on, a list was established, stating the hieroglyphic symbols and their Greek equivalents. This was to help people who did not know the hieroglyphic language, so they could compare it with a more common alphabet that they knew. It was soon realized, though, that the symbols were not only alphabetic, they also determined the meaning of the word itself. For example, an Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol might be a small picture of the sun. This may not represent a letter of the alphabet, but actually mean "the sun".
Later on, a list was established, stating the hieroglyphic symbols and their Greek equivalents. This was to help people who did not know the hieroglyphic language, so they could compare it with a more common alphabet that they knew. It was soon realized, though, that the symbols were not only alphabetic, they also determined the meaning of the word itself. For example, an Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol might be a small picture of the sun. This may not represent a letter of the alphabet, but actually mean "the sun".
hieroglyphic alphabet-1.bp.blogspot.com
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Using the hieroglyphic code on the left, depict this message!
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Technological Advancements
Five technological advancements the ancient Egyptians made were creating door locks, hieroglyphic writing, use of calendars, architecture, and agriculture.
Door Locks
The first door lock was a pin-tumbler block (for more information, see Egyptian Inventions\Door Locks)
Hieroglyphic Writing
The meaning of hieroglyphic writing was discovered when the Rosetta Stone was found (for more information, see Egyptian Inventions\Hieroglyphic Writing)
Use of Calendars
The ancient Egyptians used calendars like we do to track the date and time of year. Having a calendar was very practical back then, even neccessary to survive. The Egyptians could use calendars to keep track of the flooding of the Nile. This was very important, because if the Nile flooded and no one knew it was going to, the crops near the river would be washed away, and famine would strike the land.
The Egyptians had a simple calendar much like ours today, with 365 days. There were twelve months, each month divided into 30 days, and an extra five days. They had nothing to account for the extra quarter each year. Like our twenty-four hour day, the Egyptians too had days divided into twenty four units, each unit personified by a different god.
The Egyptians ancient calendar greatly influenced ours today. They have the same basics, 365 days a year, about thirty days a month, and twenty four hours a day. We built off of their original ideas, adding the extra day every four years and making the days in the months add up to exactly 365. If it weren't for the Egyptians beginning calendar, we would not have such complex calendars in our daily use today.
The Egyptians had a simple calendar much like ours today, with 365 days. There were twelve months, each month divided into 30 days, and an extra five days. They had nothing to account for the extra quarter each year. Like our twenty-four hour day, the Egyptians too had days divided into twenty four units, each unit personified by a different god.
The Egyptians ancient calendar greatly influenced ours today. They have the same basics, 365 days a year, about thirty days a month, and twenty four hours a day. We built off of their original ideas, adding the extra day every four years and making the days in the months add up to exactly 365. If it weren't for the Egyptians beginning calendar, we would not have such complex calendars in our daily use today.
The Egyptian months are named after different gods and
are about the length of our months-www.egyptsearch.
are about the length of our months-www.egyptsearch.
Architecture
The Egyptian monuments are so large and heavy it seems incredible anyone could make them without the help of machinery. The Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx, two of the most famous Egyptian monuments, are so large that nothing from tornadoes to hurricanes could destroy them. The construction of the pyramids, obelisks, and other great features were usually made of stone and extraordinarily permanent for that time period. 5000 years after they built these great structures, they still stand in their original form in Egypt.
Ancient Egyptians built many large structures that influence our own buildings today. For example, the Washington Monument is a structure that greatly resembles the Egyptian obelisks. The Louvre in France is the same shape as the Egyptian pyramids. The Egyptians ancient building techniques influenced the kinds of structures we construct today.
Ancient Egyptians built many large structures that influence our own buildings today. For example, the Washington Monument is a structure that greatly resembles the Egyptian obelisks. The Louvre in France is the same shape as the Egyptian pyramids. The Egyptians ancient building techniques influenced the kinds of structures we construct today.
The Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx are some of the
most extraordinary pieces of architecture ever-
famouswonders.com
most extraordinary pieces of architecture ever-
famouswonders.com
Agriculture
The Nile was essential for the planting and growing of the crops in ancient Egypt. When the Nile floods, it covers the croplands in fertile silt. This fine soil allows crops to grow very well. Once the seeds are planted throughout the fields of silt, the Nile serves as a water source for the plants. Water from the Nile River fills the irrigation canals, bringing water to every part of the fields.
Although all of our cities today are not centered around a river, the irrigation systems used in Egypt have been used here as well, bringing water through pipes, ditches, or canals to reach all points a field. If the Egyptians had never come up with this efficient strategy for watering crops, we may never have discovered a way to use irrigation as effectively.
Although all of our cities today are not centered around a river, the irrigation systems used in Egypt have been used here as well, bringing water through pipes, ditches, or canals to reach all points a field. If the Egyptians had never come up with this efficient strategy for watering crops, we may never have discovered a way to use irrigation as effectively.
These irrigation canals are dug all the way through the
fields, in order to get water to every area of crops-
www.egyking.info
fields, in order to get water to every area of crops-
www.egyking.info