Question

What was the social hierarchy prevalent in Egypt

Answer 1

Answer:

The society of ancient Egypt was strictly divided into a hierarchy with the king at the top and then his vizier, the members of his court, priests and scribes, regional governors (eventually called 'nomarchs'), the generals of the military (after the period of the New Kingdom, c. 1570- c. 1069 BCE), artists and craftspeople, government overseers of worksites (supervisors), the peasant farmers, and slaves.

Social mobility was not encouraged, nor was it observed for most of Egypt's history, as it was thought that the gods had decreed the most perfect social order which was in keeping with the central value of the culture, ma’at (harmony and balance). Ma’at was the universal law which allowed the world to function as it should and the social hierarchy of ancient Egypt was thought to reflect this principle.

The people believed the gods had given them everything they needed, and set them in the most perfect land on earth, and had then placed the king over them as an intermediary between the mortal and divine realms. The primary responsibility of the ruler was to keep ma’at and, when this was accomplished, all the other obligations of his office would fall naturally into place.

Answer 2

Answer: •The upper class consisted of royalty, landowners, high priests, and government officials.                                                                                     • The middle class consisted of merchants, artisans (craft persons) and ordinary priests.                                                                                            •The lower class consisted of farmers and unskilled workers.          •Slaves (prisoners of war) formed the lowest section of the society.

Explanation: