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An artisan is a skilled craft worker. A serf was a worker tied to the land, who had to work for the landowner.
How was Egyptian society arranged?
Egyptian society
Ranked from top to bottom
1. Rulers
Pharaoh at the very top
Example:
Pharaoh
2. Upper classes
Ran the state and temples
Example:
Officials
Nobles
Priests
3. Working classes
Owned land or laboured
Example:
Landholders
Artisans
Merchants
Serfs
Slaves
The "typical day" column is a suggested answer.
| Class | Their occupations | A typical day |
|---|---|---|
| Pharaoh | Ruler of Egypt | Held court, performed temple rituals, ordered building works |
| Government officials, nobles and priests | Administration, temples | Kept records, collected taxes, conducted worship |
| Free landholders, artisans and merchants | Farming their own land, crafts, trade | Worked in workshops or fields, bought and sold goods |
| Serfs and slaves | Heavy labour | Worked the fields and building sites from sunrise to sunset |
NCERT question · LET'S EXPLORE, page 87
Look at the social hierarchy pyramid in the image. What were the social classes of early Egypt? What were the different kinds of occupations? What could have been a typical daily routine of the people from each class?
