The government employed construction workers who built royal buildings like pyramids and palaces. Peasants were the farmers, servants and constructions workers. Craftsmen often worked in workshops with other artisans of the same type. Women could work in some of the crafts, such as weaving. Craftsmen or artisans included carpenters, jewelers, metalworkers, painters, potters, sculptors, stone carvers and weavers. Merchants sold the goods made by craftsmen and doctors treated injuries. The middle class consisted of craftsmen, merchants and other skilled workers such as doctors. The Middle Class: Craftsmen and Merchants

© Tim Dawson - Relief depicting soldiers at Medinet Habu The vizier also ran the pharaoh’s household and ensured the royal family’s safety. He listened to problems between nobles and settled them. The vizier managed the taxation system and monitored the supply of food. He oversaw the political administration and all official documents had to have his seal on them. The vizier was the pharaoh’s second-in-command and sometimes served as High Priest of Amun-Ra. At first, the pharaoh appointed all government positions but soon they became hereditary. Over time, the royal family left government positions, leaving the nobles to fill them. The royal family made up the original members of the government, the highest position of which was the vizier. Government officials consisted of members of the royal family, nobles and priests. The Pharaoh owned all the land in Egypt but he could gift land to other people as gifts or to award them. The people looked to the pharaoh to ensure their well-being and when s/he did not live up to this expectation s/he had less power.

S/he had to maintain the army to defend the country from outside threats and internal difficulties. The people expected the pharaoh to keep the gods happy so the Nile would flood and there would be a good harvest. It was his/her duty to make the law and maintain order in the Kingdom. The Pharaoh was a god on earth and the ultimate authority in Egypt. © Maurizio Zanetti - Statue of Thutmose III

What are the legacies of ancient egypt