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| The Ancient Egyptians lived in a narrow strip of land along the Nile River (see picture) because the rest of the land in the region was desert. The Nile River, therefore, was a central part of everyday life in Ancient Egypt. They used it to water the land for farming and to take baths. While you're reading, see if you can find some of the other ways that the Ancient Egyptians used the Nile River. |  |
Family Life was very important to Ancient Egyptians.
Most families had a husband, a wife, and children. Children were considered
a great blessing to Egyptian families. Wealthier Egyptians had servants
in their homes to help care for the children and to help with household
duties. Pharaohs, or kings, had several wives.
Usually, the women worked in their homes, although
there were some women who had jobs and even a few who became doctors. 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.
There was very little wood in Egypt, so the Egyptians built their homes from bricks of sun-dried mud. These were called adobe homes. The houses would have several rooms and windows covered with curtains to keep out flies and dust. During the summers, many people slept on their roofs to keep cool. Egyptians had very little furniture - usually only small stools and jewelry boxes.
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.
Most Egyptians bathed in the Nile River. Wealthy families
had separate rooms in their homes for baths. Everyone in Ancient Egypt
wore make-up and perfume - even men and servants! Hair styles were much
like the ones we see today, but on special occasions men and women wore
wigs.
Clothing was made out of linen. Both men and women
wore skirts called kilts, and children usually didn't wear clothes at all
in the warm weather. Wealthy women sometimes wore beaded dresses, and wealthy
men often wore decorative robes.
The Nile River was the place where most people in Ancient
Egypt went to relax. They used it for fishing, boating, swimming, and boat
games.
The Ancient Egyptians also loved music, and they often
had parties and festivals with music and dancing.
