Ancient Egypt for Kids
Social Classes

Social Scale: The kings (pharaohs) were at the top of the social scale and slaves were at the bottom.

• Pharaohs (kings)

• Viziers

• Priests / Really good doctors

• Scribes / Doctors

• Craftsmen / Artists / Spell Makers

• Farmers (peasants)

• Slaves / Servants

Anyone could join the army. But most people did not want to join. Leaving the farm for the military was not usually a step up. At the top, military leaders were equal to scribes or even priests. At the bottom they were equal to peasants or even servants. Most soldiers were at the bottom.

The government administrators were also divided into classes. The Viziers were at the top. Depending upon your job, you might be equal to a craftsman or perhaps a farmer.

Doctors were both men and women, although mostly men. Doctors had to go to school in the House of Life. Doctors specialized. If you had a stomach ache, you went to the stomach doctor. If you had a headache, you went to the head doctor.

Nearly every occupation was divided into classes. The ancient Egyptian invented bureaucracy 5,000 years ago.

In ancient Egypt, everyone had a job and most jobs were inherited. For the most part, you followed in your father's footsteps. If your father was a farmer, most probably, when you grew up, you would become a farmer.  There were exceptions. If you had talent as an artist or craftsman, someone would take you for training in their shop. If you were accepted to scribe school, that was a sure way to climb the social scale. If you went to doctor school in the School of Life, and were successful in your career, you would be given great respect. Or, if you showed leadership abilities or a knack for fighting, you might join the military and try to move up the ranks. But most people in ancient Egypt were farmers.

The military in ancient Egypt

Social Classes in ancient Egypt

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