ANCIENT EGYPT UNIT OF STUDY Cultural Universal: Family Life

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ANCIENT EGYPT UNIT OF STUDYCultural
UniversalFamily Life
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INTRODUCTION

• Egyptologists have learned about daily life in
  ancient Egypt by studying drawings, paintings,
  and artifacts found in tombs and pyramids. We
  will be learning about
• Family Life
• Homes
• Food
• Clothing and Appearance
• Entertainment

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ESSENTIAL QUESTION

• How was daily life in ancient Egypt different
  from what it is today? How is it alike?

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FAMILY LIFE

• Ancient Egyptians cherished family life. Most
  families had a husband, wife, and children.
  Children were considered a great blessing.
• Most woman worked in their homes.
• Young boys went to school to learn reading,
  writing, religion, and arithmetic. There were no
  schools for girls, but many learned to read and
  write at home.
• Most men and boys worked in the fields or took
  care of the animals outside the villages.
• Life was very difficult for the poor and worked
  long hours for the goods they could exchange. The
  wealthy enjoyed a life of comfort and rewards.
  Many were merchants.

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HOMES

• The majority of Egyptians lived in small, single
  family flat topped houses made of sun-dried
  bricks from the mud. These were called adobe
  homes. Many people would sleep on their roofs at
  night to keep cool during the summer months.
• Walls were often plastered and/or painted with
  patterns or scenes of nature, inside and out.
• The number of rooms, location, and size depended
  on the wealth of the family.

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FOOD

• The Ancient Egyptians relied on the Nile River
  for drinking water, fish, and water to grow
  crops. They used clay ovens to bake bread, which
  was the most common food. They made the bread out
  of wheat and used honey, fruit, and herbs to
  flavor it.
• Most Egyptians drank beer, and wealthy Egyptians
  also drank wine. Wealthy families also ate on
  plates of bronze, silver, and gold. Common
  families used dishes made of clay.

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CLOTHING AND APPEARANCE

• Everyone in ancient Egypt wore make-up and
  perfume-even men and servants!
• The hair styles are much like the ones we have
  today, but on special occasions men and woman
  wore wigs.
• Their clothing was made out of linen and both men
  and woman wore skirts, called kilts.
• Children wore nothing at all during the warm
  weather.
• The wealthy wore more decorative clothing, i.e.
  beaded dresses and decorative robes.

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ENTERTAINMENT

• The people of ancient Egypt used the Nile River
  as a place to go and relax.
• The river was used for fishing, boating,
  swimming, and boat games.
• Music was very important the the Egyptians. They
  often had parties and festivals that featured
  music and dancing.

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TODAYS ACTIVITY

• Today we are going to Compare and Contrast
  Ancient Egyptian Life to Present Day Family Life.
• You will also be thinking of the Similarities
  between the two topics.
• You may research the Internet and/or use the
  Social Studies books to complete your Venn-Diagram