Ancient Egypt for Kids
Jobs

People worked very hard in ancient Egypt. Everybody had a job. In ancient Egypt, women could work at a job outside the home as well. Jobs included bakers, priests, noblemen, soldiers, farmers, merchants, fishermen, hunters, craftsmen, artists, and scribes. There were many professions in ancient Egypt, most of which were inherited. For the most part, whatever job your father had, you had. If he was a farmer, when you grew up, you would become a farmer. Other inherited jobs included doctors, teachers, bakers, fishermen, herders, boatmen, administrators, and traders.

But there were a couple of professions that could help you move up the social ladder. One was to become a scribe, the people who wrote things down. The other was to become a craftsman or an artist if you were talented. Anyone could join the army. Thanks to Egypt's natural barriers, Egypt had little need for a large army. The army protected the delta region and the area to the south. They army also settle local differences.

The biggest job of all was that of Pharaoh. Pharaoh's job was to take care of his people. Pharaoh made laws, collected taxes, defended Egypt from invasion, and was the high priest. Pharaoh owned everything in ancient Egypt. But of course, he did not do all these jobs himself. Pharaoh had many helpers, called administrators. His most important administrators, his right hand man, was called the Vizier.

Nobles and Administrators

The Vizier

Scribes in Ancient Egypt

Craftsmen & Artists in Ancient Egypt

Priests in Ancient Egypt

Soldiers in Ancient Egypt

Merchants, the Egyptian Marketplace

Traders

Farmers in Ancient Egypt

Slaves