The Pecking Order of Ancient Egypt

Chooks peck the chooks that are below them in status, while they submit to being pecked by those above them. This hierarchy is evident in many human interactions, though it is rarely quite so straightforward and predictable. In the society of ancient Egypt, people certainly knew their place; their position in society was unlikely to change much in the course of one lifetime. If you were born a peasant farmer, you were overwhelmingly likely to die a peasant – after a life of intensive labour and anxiety about survival. In comparison, these chooks seem very happy, even if some of them have to put up with a bit of pecking. Picture kindly provided by Ms Gordon.

Dear 7B,

Ancient Egyptian society was a kind of hierarchy in which some people had more power, status and importance than others. Some people got to boss others around, make them work and get them to pay taxes. Most of the people, who were peasant farmers, worked hard, were told what to do and paid taxes to those above them in the hierarchy.

Some anthropologists call this a kind of human pecking order.

The original type of pecking order was first observed by a biologist called W. C. Allee. He noticed in the 1920s that chooks peck each other according to their power or status in the farmyard. The most powerful chook pecks all the others. The least powerful chook is pecked by all the others. In between are the chooks who are pecked by those above them and who peck those below them. This concept of a pecking order is used to denote a hierarchy of power.

For instance, in our school Mrs Mitchell is above me in the pecking order and, I’m sorry to say, you are below me. Although I would never peck you, I do tell you what to do, badger you about your homework and talk endlessly about history while you feel more or less obliged to listen. That’s a bit like pecking, if you think about it.

Of course, human relationships are much more complex than those of chooks. In ancient Egypt, the people at the top had responsibilities as well as privileges, but they certainly wielded much more power than those at the bottom. The lowly peasant farmers had to work hard, sometimes on the pharaoh’s projects, sometimes on their own farms. The yearly ebb and flow of the Nile flood determined their existence.  In your new role as Emit and Llatiwonk, you need to describe and comment on this society.

The sources below will help you to find out about the Nile and the people who established their lasting civilization on its banks. Remember to write notes that will help you to complete your Emit Repoons/Llatiwonk assignment, which is due on Wednesday 27 March.

For those students whose assignment handouts mysteriously disappear into the dark, fathomless corners of their school bag, rapidly breaking down and becoming illegible and untouchable, download your assignment here: 

Emit Repoons 2013

Glossary
General Specific to Ancient Egypt

hierarchy

pecking order

status

power

role

privileges

artisan

scribe

pharaoh

Nile

yearly flood/inundation

vizier

hieroglyphics

mummification

nomarch

high priest/ess

This picture of an Egyptian peasant figure working a plough behind two oxen was kindly provided by the British Museum.

The importance of the Nile – BBC Website

Questions and answers about the Nile – an easy website

A day in the life of various ancient Egyptians – PBS Website

A fascinating account of archaeological evidence on who actually built the Pyramids – PBS website

Global Egyptian Museum for Kids 

The Role of the Pharaoh from the British Museum

The Role of Slaves in Ancient Eygpt 

History for Kids

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