The Middle and New Kingdoms

DailyLife

QueenHatshepsut

Terms to Tackle:

• Middle Kingdom

• New Kingdom

• Queen Hatshepsut

The Middle Kingdom

• Pharaohs began to run out of money by about 2200 B.C., and nobles took over.

• Trade and farming declined, and chaos broke out.

• In 2050 B.C., however, Mentuhotep II took over Egypt and ruled as a Pharaoh.

The MiddleKingdom

lasted until1750 B.C.

Mentuhotep II

The Middle Kingdom and the Hyksos

• Pharaohs once again had a hard time keeping power.

• For about 200 years, the Hyksos, a group from Asia, came and took over Lower Egypt.

• Egyptians disliked paying the Hyksos taxes and being ruled by them.

Luckily for the Egyptians, a man named Ahmose built an army and tookpower back from the Hyksos.

The New Kingdom

• Ahmose’s reign began the New Kingdom and the time when Egypt was at its peak.

• This era lasted from 1550 B.C. to 1050 B.C.

• During this era, Egypt created its first army to take over new land and to keep people like the Hyksos from taking over again.

As Egypt’s armytook over distant

lands, Egypt beganto trade.

The more land Egypt took over, themore taxes they received.

Egypt’s Female Pharaoh

• Thutmose II passed away but had only one son to take over the throne.

• Since his son was just a baby at the time of his death, his wife, Hatshepsut, took over power as the Pharaoh of Egypt.

• Many Egyptians were angry at the idea of a woman ruler.

• In order to gain respect, she dressed as a man and wore a

fake beard.

Much of theQueen’s moneywas spent on art

and temples.

When the Queen died, her son destroyedmost of his mom’s hard work.

Work and Daily Life

• Egypt’s complex society and a surplus of crops allowed for Egyptians to take on many different jobs.

• These jobs included:ScribesArtisans, Artists, ArchitectsSoldiersFarmers and PeasantsSlaves

Scribes

• Other than the Pharaoh, priests, and government officials, scribes were the most honored in society.

• They kept records of finances and copied religious documents.

• They didn’t have to pay taxes and many became wealthy.

Why do you think Egyptiansbelieved scribes were so important?

Artisans, Artists, and Architects

• Below scribes on the social pyramid were artisans, artists, and architects.

• These people were builders, carpenters, jewelers, sculptors, leather workers, and metal workers.

• The best artisans, artists, and architects worked for the pharaoh and became very wealthy.

Soldiers

• Soldiers received land as payment.

• They could also keep treasures they found in war.

• Great soldiers could rise to officer positions and lead the army.

Farmers, Peasants, and Slaves

• The majority of Egypt’s people were farmers and peasants.

• Farmers paid the Pharaoh taxes with crops.

• Peasants could be called upon anytime to do jobs like build pyramids, mine gold, or fight in war.

• Slaves were even lower than peasants but would do similar jobs.

Farmers usedtools like this

shaduf to fetchwater from the

Nile.

Family Life• Men were expected to

marry young.• Women mostly stayed

home, but some worked as priestesses and artisans.

• Woman had the right to own property and divorce their husbands.

• Most children went to school and studied morals, writing, math, and sports.

Egyptians are thought to be the first peopleto have cats as pets. Cats were also considered deities.