History Alive! Daily Life in Ancient Egypt- lesson 9

Why are the social classes of ancient Egypt described by the shape at the left, rather than the shape at the right?

• The triangle represented the three seasons of the Nile.

• Most people were in the bottom classes, and the fewest people were at the top.

• Scientists like to use a pyramid to keep the layers apart.

• Many structures of that design were built in the desert.

A symbol used in the Ancient Egyptian system of writing developed around 3000 B.C.E.

• pictograph

• cuneiform

• hieroglyphs

• letter

Who built the giant temples of the pharaohs?

• peasant farmers during the flood season

• priests hoping to get jobs at the temples

• government officials out of favor

• scribes who kept poor records

An existence after death.

• reincarnation

• afterlife

• scribes

• mummification

Which of these activities was permitted only to men?

• owning land

• asking for a divorce

• working as a scribe

• running a business

A person who does farm work for wealthy landowners.

• farmer

• scribe

• artisan

• peasant

How did most government officials get their jobs?

• Priests relied on signs from the gods to choose them.

• They attended school to learn how to govern.

• Popular elections showed the vote of the people.

• They inherited the position from a family member.

Of high birth or rank

• pharaoh

• peasant

• noble

• king

Which sentence best describes the role of women in religion?

• They could become priestesses.

• They were worshiped as gods.

• They were not allowed in temples.

• They ran all religious ceremonies.

The position, or standing, of an individual compared to others in the same society.

• social pyramid

• social class

• status

• social structure