Management Theory & Practice

Egypt social life

he social system of Ancient Egypt is, of ancient civilisations, that of which the most is known. The ancient history of other countries is, as a rule, a record of wars, famines, conquests, invasions and other outstanding events. Records of how people lived and how society was governed and conducted are often matters of deduction rather than of knowledge. This is not the case with Ancient Egypt. Egyptologists are able to give us a minute and detailed picture of social life in Egypt three and even four thousand years ago.

Municipal life, which comes closer to the lives of the people than is possible for a central administration, was known in Ancient Egypt. Each city had its prefect, a sort of mayor whose business it was to provide what was necessary for the civic needs of the inhabitants. The prefect, whose scarlet robes were emblematic of his office, was assisted by a judge and by a scribe. One of his functions was to regulate labour and employment. Craftsmen and artisans were strictly prohibited from changing over from one trade to another. Skilled handwork does not appear to have enjoyed an open market. Most craftsmen were attached in a more or less permanent capacity to the establishments of nobles or high officials. It follows, therefore, that there cannot have been a large or independant middle class in Ancient Egypt. There was the official or ruling class, the class of the priests and, below these, the masses employed in work of every kind. But since members