Life in Ancient Egypt: Along the Nile River

Study Notes

Family Life

The head of the family was the father, who was succeeded by his eldest son upon his death.
Most boys followed in their fathers' footsteps, taking on the same jobs, such as farming and craftsmanship.
Girls were trained to become mothers and homemakers, learning household chores from their mothers.

Education

Only a few upper-class boys and girls attended special schools where they were taught to become scribes.
Scribes wrote official government documents and were considered essential to the administration.

Food and Drink

Bread made from wheat was the staple food in Ancient Egypt.
Richer families had access to vegetables, fish, and meat, while middle and lower-class people drank beer, and the upper class drank wine.
Food was prepared on clay stoves.

Clothing and Jewelry

Almost all Egyptians wore white clothes, with men wearing skirts or robes and women wearing skirts or dresses with shoulder straps.
Richer people wore sandals, while the majority went barefoot.
Women were fond of wearing makeup, painting their fingernails and lips, and dyeing their hair in many colors.
Both men and women liked wearing rings and other jewelry.

Housing

Egyptian houses were made of dried mud and had flat roofs.
Poor people lived in simple huts, while richer people in cities lived in buildings that had up to three floors.
Houses had small windows to keep out the sun and help the house stay cool.

Leisure Activities

Ancient Egyptians enjoyed swimming and fishing in the Nile River.
Hunting crocodiles, lions, and other wild animals were popular sports.

Religion

Ancient Egyptians believed in several gods and goddesses, with the sun god Re (or Ra) being the most important.
The most famous goddess was Isis, who was seen as the ideal mother and wife.
Her husband Osiris was the ruler of the dead.
Most Egyptians prayed at home, while the gods and goddesses lived in great temples.
The Karnak temple, one of the most famous, consists of over 130 columns that are 25 meters high.

Work

Most ancient Egyptians were farmers, who grew crops on the rich black soil brought by the annual floods of the Nile River.
The Nile River was the main transportation route and the center of Ancient Egypt.

Society

The ancient Egyptian population lived on both sides of the Nile valley and in the delta region.
They had dark skin and dark hair.
The population was divided into three main classes: the upper class, consisting of the pharaoh and his family, rich landowners, priests, and doctors; the middle class, consisting of traders, merchants, and craftsmen; and the lower class, consisting of unskilled workers.
Slaves were prisoners taken from conquered foreign countries.

Description

Explore how people lived in Ancient Egypt around the Nile River, one of the world's first civilizations. Discover the significance of the Nile River in Ancient Egyptian life, from agriculture to transportation, and their inventions and discoveries.