History Family life
Families were the center of Egyptian life, and many generations often lived together. Children helped from an early age, carrying water, minding animals and working in the fields. Most boys learned their father's trade, and most girls learned to run a household.
Archaeologists have found toys: balls of leather and reeds, dolls, spinning tops and wooden animals with jaws that open and shut. Adults and children played senet, a board game with 30 squares that was popular for more than 2,000 years.
History Women's rights
Egyptian women had more rights than in many ancient lands. They could own and inherit land, run businesses, make contracts and go to court, and some women ruled the country as queens and pharaohs.
History Growing up
Young children often wore no clothes at all in the heat. Many had their heads shaved except for one long lock of hair on the side, called the sidelock of youth, which was cut off as they grew up.
Art In this artwork
The illustration shows a cozy mud-brick house with a palm tree, a small garden and steps up to the roof.
Look closer
- Find the steps to the roof.
- Where is the palm tree?
Think about it
- How did children help their families?
- Which toys from ancient Egypt are still played with today?
- What rights should everyone in a family have?
Key words
- Senet
- An ancient Egyptian board game.
- Inherit
- To receive property from someone who has died.
- Generation
- People born and living at about the same time.
Use it in class
- What was daily life like in ancient Egypt? (Explainer, grades 3-8)
Sources
The history on this page is a short summary based on these sources:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Ancient Egypt"
- Ian Shaw (editor), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000)
