Slaves were utilized to build infrastructure, farmers produced the food for the society, and the other social levels contributed by either governing, defending, or producing commodities for the civilization. This social stratification was necessary for a civilization as large as ancient Egypt to function. King Tutankhamen ruled from 1333- 1323 BCE. This wall painting depicts the King Tutankhamen with Egyptian gods Anubis and Nephthys. The rest of the people’s status went in the order of scribes, merchants, artisans, farmers, and finally slaves. They had absolute power over the dominion which required protection through the help of government officials and soldiers. The Egyptian people believed the pharaoh to be a god in mortal form. After the gods came the pharaohs in social status. The Egyptians tried their best to please the gods because if they were happy, then the Nile would flood producing an abundance of crops and preventing famine. At the top of the social structure were gods such as Ra and Osiris because the Egyptians believed that they controlled the universe. This gave rise to the belief in the gods and a highly stratified social structure. The flooding of the Nile was not a perfect occurrence. By determining when the Nile flooded, the river proved to be a sustainable way to live life. Similar to how the Mayans developed Neolithic techniques through maize, beans, and squash in the tropical climate of Guatemalan rainforests, early Egyptians were able to grow wheat, beans, and cotton on the banks of the Nile. Instead of roaming the land, they saw the opportunity the Nile provided them through agriculture. The inhabitants utilized the Nile to adapt to the changing environment. Without it, Egyptian civilization could not have existed. This painting depicts the vitality the Nile River brings to the arid climate.
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