Life in Ancient Egypt

Fields were plowed once or twice with oxen pulling the plows. Using hoes men would then break up the remaining clumps of soil. When the seed was thrown over the field, animals were again used to tramp the seeds into the soil. Various crops grown might include emmer, barley, flax, lentils, onion, beans, and millet.

Middle Class
Middle class homes were made up sun-dried brick varying from one to three stories. Upon entering a home, a guest, depending upon gender, was received in the male or female parlor. Furnishings would, of course, depend upon the family's wealth. Both men and women wore wigs for ornament as well as for protection from the sun. They also wore jewelry ranging from bracelets, anklets, to amulets and used cosmetics including "kohl" outlining the eyes to help reflect the sun. Linen was the common fabric for clothing and both men and women wore sandals or went barefoot.

A bedroom might include beds made of fine woods from Lebanon or other rare woods such as ebony and enhanced with silver, gold, or ivory. The beds were usually higher at the head and lower at the feet. Mattresses might be made of bound cord and covered with linen or animal skins. Generally a cushion was used as a pillow. Or they may be made of papyrus reeds also bound together and covered with animal skins.

Other rooms, typically, would include the bathroom or shower area. A slave would stand behind the screen and pour water over their master.

If a family had slaves, they would cook the meals in the kitchen area. This room would have fires of wood or charcoal and use kettles and other cooking utensils. Food storage might be kept in various triangular-shaped huts for later consumption.

An average home usually had a small courtyard and murals might be painted on the walls and floors depicting gardens and pools.

Mud Bricks & Pottery
The banks of the Nile contained a rich clay-like mud which was formed into bricks for building or used to make pottery for daily use. The mud, mixed with plant material, was put into rectangular forms and left to bake in the sun. Pottery, on the other hand, was generally formed into various shapes by hand (pinch pots, coil pots, and slab pots).

Class Distinction
Ancient Egyptian society was basically divided into four classes. The upper class included the government officials, nobles, and priests. The middle class included the scribes, skilled craftsmen, tradespeople, teachers, artists, and soldiers. The peasants, mostly farmers, laborers, and servants made up the lower class, which was the largest class. And lastly, the slaves made up the bottom class. Egypt really had few slaves. They were mostly foreign captives from Nubia to the south (Sudan) or Asia to the northeast.