Ancient Egyptian Culture

The Nile was principle to the culture of Egypt. It flows northward from Lake Tana in present day Ethiopia and continues northward through most of Africa and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. North of Cairo in Egypt it divides into a number of branches, five in ancient times and two today. It was filled with various edible fish, which was a source of food, but also had dangerous predators such as crocodiles. Every year, heavy rains way to the south send huge amounts of silt-filled water rushing north through Egypt. After the river had receded it left behind a residue of fertile soil. Over the millennia the deposit formed a flood plain that was narrow in some places and wider in other depending on the hardness of the underlying stone. The fertile soil helped Egyptian farmers to prosper and produce a surplus of crops that helped Egypt grow and gain power. The river was also key to transportation and communication between cities. By the time of the New Kingdom many different types of vessels filled the river.

 The social classes are described as a pyramid with the king or pharaoh at the top, supported by his family and other higher ranked officials. Below these were the elite of the court, officials, army commanders, and priests of the higher orders. Forming the bottom of the pyramid are the larger amounts of Egyptians, the peasants who worked in the fields and were the foot soldiers in the army. The ancient Egyptians had a rich and varied diet. It was mainly bread and beer, but vegetable gardens provided lettuce, onions, leeks, and garlic. Many different fruits were also available. Fish were also an important food source for all classes and were sometimes salted to provide for longer-term storage. Domesticated and wild animals were sometimes kept in pens and cared for, bred, and eventually eaten.

   Most ancient Egyptians lived in houses made of mud brick. They were built on high ground as to avoid the flooding of the Nile. The majority lived in small villages but some lived in larger towns or even cities. The poorest lived in small huts with only one room. Most families occupied houses with several rooms in which they slept, cooked, and stored various foods and items in. The roofs even served a purpose, as often families would cook upon them or in some cases sleep on them as well.