Ancient Egypt Government
The pharaoh was the supreme ruler of Ancient Egypt. The people of Egypt considered the pharaoh to be a half-man, half-god. The pharaoh owned all of Egypt. He owned all animals, mines, people, and even the Nile River. The citizens gave the pharaoh portions of their crops in taxes. Workers donated their labor, and artists created art for the pharaoh. This made the pharaoh an extremely wealthy person. The government built storehouses to hold grain that was given as tax payment. During times of severe drought the pharaoh would give some of this grain to the hungry Egyptians. |
The pharaoh was usually succeeded by his oldest son. The son was trained throughout his life to take over the role of pharaoh after his father's death. Sometimes rivalries and secret plots caused a change in this succession. Because of this, Egypt had about thirty royal dynasties ruling for more than three thousand years.
The pharaoh chose one or two viziers, or prime ministers, to help him. The pharaoh's most important role was to serve as a lawmaker and warrior. The pharaoh also had thousands of government workers. They made sure the laws were carried out. They kept records of crops. The government also trained troops and carried on wars. Soldiers, policemen, and custom officers kept track of who came in and out of the country. They used trained dogs to capture thieves, runaway slaves, or people trying to leave the country without paying taxes.
Crowns of Egypt from Dendera
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Pharaohs wore false beards and tails. The false beards were usually blue. No one knows why the pharaoh wore the beard. The tail was to remind the people that the pharaoh had magical powers, animal powers. The pharaoh also carried a shepherd's staff and a flail or whip. The staff represented a shepherd's protection and the flail reminded the Egyptians that they'd better do what the king wanted. The pharaoh never let his hair be seen. He wore a crown for ceremonies and a headdress called a nemes for everyday life. |
Ancient EgyptSlaves
After winning many foreign wars, the defeated people were brought back to Egypt as slaves. Some slaves were given to the generals. Others were placed in temples, mines, or quarries. In the mines slaves worked with prisoners.
Slaves could be sold, inherited, loaned, or rented. Male slaves could marry free women. When slaves married free people, they could accumulate belongings. These possessions were given to the owner’s children after death.
Ancient EgyptSoldiers
The army policed the borders, collected taxes, and controlled the people of Egypt. During the New Kingdom Period from 1570 to 1085 BCE, the army was divided into two groups: the wealthy knights who drove the king's chariots and the infantrymen, foot soldiers. Soldiers fought with bows and arrows or spears.
Boys who were to become soldiers were taken away from their families as children. They lived in camps where they were trained. Soldiers not only fought wars for their king, but they traveled to faraway lands to find gold, ebony, or ivory. They organized the workmen in the quarries and oversaw the transportation of stone blocks when the pharaoh built a temple. The best soldiers guarded the palace. Others were sent out to patrol the borders.
See a complete list of the pharaohs that ruled Egypt.
Click the images to go to the individual pages.
