Most Egyptians worked as field hands, farmers, craftsmen, and scribes Few were nobles Daily life depended on the Nile River which provided rich soil after flooding Ancient Egyptians thought that Egypt was divided into two parts the Red land and the Black land. The Red land was the desert on both sides of them that protected them from invaders. The Black land was the fertile farm land that surrounded the Nile River

The Pharaoh or king was the only land owner priest or judge in Egypt Each Egyptian had the right to marry only one woman. Woman is equal to man and she has the right to have her own property and enter into sale or purchase contracts. Father’s wealth shall be inherited equally by his sons and daughters, without distinction between males and females.

Every man is free to make his own will Slavery was not sanctioned by the Egyptian law at that time. Neighboring landlords normally shared water for irrigation Royal families often intermarried because they did not want to produce children with common people.

 Government is a Republic type  Conventional long form of Egypt’s name: Arab Republic Of Egypt  Capital: Cairo  Gained Independence from the UK on February 28, 1922

Recording and communicatin g information about government and religion was important Hieroglyphics was the most famous form of script for ancient Egyptians Temple and tomb walls and papyrus scrolls are what scribes used to preserve beliefs, history and ideas of Ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egyptians spoke Coptic Coptic alphabet was a modified form of the Greek alphabet The language of modern day Egypt is Arabic Picture shows Arabic letters

Religion guided all aspects of life They worshiped many Gods (as many as 2000 different Gods and Goddesses) Gods and Goddesses were usually represented as half human and half animal (Example: Horus the sky God had the head of a hawk and the body of a man)

Death was a transitional stage in the progress to a better life in the next world. They believed the physical body had to be preserved to allow a place for their spirit to dwell in the after life. Mummification was done to preserve the body Tombs for the Pharaohs final resting place were constructed during the Old Kingdom. Later rock cut out tombs were used to bury Pharaohs.

After a period of 70 days (the time it took for mummification to take place), the mummy was placed in a decorated coffin. Furniture, carved statues, games, food and other items were buried with the mummy for use in the after life. The last ceremony was the opening of the mouth by the priest, this would allow the deceased to eat and speak again in the after life.

Women and men shared equal legal and economic rights Social class determined a persons rights Marriage was important to Egyptians A man could marry more than one wife and people of close relations (sisters, cousins) even though this was looked down upon royal families would do this as a safeguard their status (rule).

 A woman would keep and manage her own belongings even after marriage  Brides could be as young as eight or nine but the average age was 14.  No ceremony or dress, a girl was considered a bride once she left her father’s home and moved in with the new man  Women now have fewer rights in modern day Egypt  A man can divorce a woman at anytime but a woman must prove she has been mistreated

Why have women lost some of their freedom? Do you think Egypt is still as interesting in modern day as it was in Ancient times or has it change to suite tourism?