Old Kingdom Egypt had a complex social structure with the at the top. As a living god, the pharaoh ruled absolutely, maintaining order and overseeing everything from construction to religious rituals. Below him were nobles, priests, soldiers, craftsmen, and peasants.
The economy revolved around , with the Nile's annual floods providing fertile soil. Trade, both internal and external, was important, with the state controlling long-distance trade. Taxes, collected as crops and labor, funded large projects and supported the upper classes.
Social Structure and Government in Old Kingdom Egypt
Social hierarchy of Old Kingdom Egypt
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3b. Egyptian Social Structure | HUM 101 Introduction to Humanities View original
Supreme authority over all aspects of Egyptian society
and high officials
Viziers, overseers, and scribes assisted in state administration
Held positions as governors of nomes (provinces) and supervisors of royal projects (pyramids)
Priests
Maintained temples, performed rituals, and communicated with gods
Significant influence due to role in religious ceremonies and knowledge of writing (hieroglyphs)
Soldiers
Defended Egypt's borders and maintained internal order
Comprised of conscripted peasants and professional soldiers
Craftsmen and artisans
Skilled workers produced goods like pottery, textiles, and jewelry
Organized into guilds and workshops often associated with temples or royal court
Peasants and farmers
Majority of population responsible for cultivating land and producing food (wheat, barley)
Worked on estates owned by pharaoh, nobles, or temples paying taxes through labor and portion of crops
Pharaoh's role in Old Kingdom government
Absolute ruler of Egypt considered living god and intermediary between people and divine
Responsibilities included:
Maintaining order and balance (Ma'at) in universe
Defending Egypt against foreign threats and expanding territory (Nubia)
Overseeing construction of monuments, temples, and public works
Appointing officials like viziers and governors to administer state
Serving as chief priest performing essential religious rituals and ceremonies
Pharaoh's power supported by:
Belief in divine kingship legitimizing pharaoh's rule
Centralized bureaucracy enforcing pharaoh's decrees and collecting taxes
Military protecting Egypt's borders and quelling internal rebellions
Economy and Society in Old Kingdom Egypt
Economy of Old Kingdom Egypt
Agriculture
Nile River and annual floods provided fertile soil and reliable irrigation water
Main crops: wheat, barley, flax, and papyrus
Farmers used simple tools (wooden plows, sickles, hoes)
State organized large-scale irrigation projects and seed distribution
Trade
Internal trade: exchange of goods between different Egyptian regions facilitated by Nile River
External trade: focused on luxury goods like gold, incense, cedar wood from Nubia, Punt, Levant
State controlled most long-distance trade with royal expeditions sent to acquire valuable resources
Taxation
State collected taxes as portion of farmers' crops and labor for public works projects
Scribes kept detailed records of taxes owed and collected
Taxes stored in state granaries and redistributed to support pharaoh, nobility, temples
Taxation system financed large-scale projects (pyramid construction, military campaigns)
Power dynamics in Old Kingdom society
Pharaoh central figure serving as link between divine and earthly realms
Government composed of pharaoh-appointed officials implemented decrees and maintained order
Relationship between pharaoh and people based on Ma'at (order, balance, justice)
Pharaoh upheld Ma'at ensuring prosperity and well-being of people
People obeyed pharaoh's authority and contributed to state through taxes and labor
Pharaoh's legitimacy reinforced through:
Religious beliefs
Monumental building projects (pyramids, temples) demonstrating divine power and ensuring eternal existence
Distribution of resources (food, land) to maintain loyalty of nobility and support of people
and belief in divine kingship allowed pharaoh to:
Maintain control over population
Mobilize resources for large-scale projects
But also made Old Kingdom vulnerable to instability during times of weak or contested rule as pharaoh's authority was essential for order and prosperity