ancient egypt social classes ancient egypt legacy

Females were probably thought to be ready for marriage after their first menses. Once a young man was well into adolescence, it was appropriate for him to seek a partner and begin his own family. To make matters even more confusing for modern scholars, the term 'sister' was often used for 'wife,' perhaps an indication of the strength of the bond between spouses. 'Uncle' and 'brother' (or 'sister' and 'aunt') were also designated by the same word. For example, the word used to designate 'mother' was also used for 'grandmother,' and the word for 'father' was the same as 'grandfather' likewise, the terms for 'son,' 'grandson,' and 'nephew' (or 'daughter,' 'granddaughter,' and 'niece') were identical. Respect for one's parents was a cornerstone of morality, and the most fundamental duty of the eldest son (or occasionally daughter) was to care for his parents in their last days and to ensure that they received a proper burial.Ĭountless genealogical lists indicate how important family ties were, yet Egyptian kinship terms lacked specific words to identify blood relatives beyond the nuclear family. There was tremendous pride in one's family, and lineage was traced through both the mother's and father's lines. The nuclear family was the core of Egyptian society and many of the gods were even arranged into such groupings. To ease themselves, they go indoors, but eat outside on the streets, on the theory that what is unseemly, but necessary, should be done in private, and what is not unseemly should be done openly. Women pass water standing up, men sitting down.

Women attend markets and are employed in trade, while men stay at home and do the weaving! Men in Egypt carry loads on their head, women on their shoulder. The Egyptians appear to have reversed the ordinary practices of mankind. Brewer | Emily Teeter SESSION 1 : Marriage and the Family Ancient Egyptian Society and Family Life BY | Douglas J.

Ancient egypt social classes ancient egypt legacy