4.3 Administration and social structure in the Old Kingdom

The Old Kingdom saw a highly centralized administration with the pharaoh at the top. A complex bureaucracy, led by viziers and nomarchs, managed resources and implemented policies. Scribes played a crucial role in record-keeping and tax collection.

Old Kingdom society was strictly hierarchical, with limited social mobility. The economy relied heavily on agriculture and trade. The state controlled most resources, collecting taxes and redistributing them to support various projects and institutions.

Old Kingdom Administration

Centralized administration of Old Kingdom

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• Pharaoh held absolute power as supreme ruler and living god maintaining order, justice, and prosperity of the state
• Highly centralized administration with complex hierarchical bureaucracy implementing pharaoh's policies and managing country's resources from capital city Memphis
• Administration divided into various departments (treasury, granaries, public works) headed by officials appointed by pharaoh

Roles in Old Kingdom bureaucracy

• Viziers acted as pharaoh's chief of staff overseeing administration maintaining law and order, supervising construction projects, and managing economy as highest-ranking officials after pharaoh
• Nomarchs appointed by pharaoh as provincial governors (nomes) responsible for administering provinces, collecting taxes, maintaining local order, and overseeing irrigation and agricultural projects
• Scribes served in various administrative roles as educated officials responsible for record-keeping, correspondence, drafting legal documents, tax collection, and distribution of resources

Social Structure and Economy

Social hierarchy in Old Kingdom

• Highly stratified and hierarchical society with limited social mobility largely determined by birth
• Pharaoh and royal family at top of social pyramid as living gods holding absolute power enjoying immense wealth, privilege, and prestige
• Elite class of high-ranking officials, priests, and wealthy landowners holding important positions in administration and religious institutions enjoying luxurious lifestyle and large estates
• Commoners as majority of population including farmers, artisans, laborers, and servants subject to taxation and labor obligations (construction projects)

Economic foundations of Old Kingdom

• Agriculture as backbone of economy with annual Nile floods providing fertile soil and irrigation for main crops (wheat, barley, flax) controlled by state through granaries
• Significant role of trade with neighboring regions (Nubia, Levant, Aegean) exporting gold, linen, papyrus and importing timber, olive oil, luxury goods
• Central role of state in distribution of resources with pharaoh and elite controlling majority of land and resources collecting taxes in form of agricultural produce and labor redistributed to support administration, military, and royal construction projects