Ancient Egyptian society was highly stratified, often visualized as a pyramid.

At the very top was the pharaoh, who was considered a living god and held absolute power.

Below the pharaoh were the elite upper class, consisting of the vizier, high priests, nobles, and top military commanders.

The middle class included scribes, doctors, skilled artisans, and lower-level priests.

Scribes were particularly respected, as literacy was the key to social advancement.

The largest class, forming the base of the pyramid, was the peasant farmers who worked the land.

Peasant farmers were required to pay taxes in the form of a share of their crops and were subject to corvée labor on state projects.

At the very bottom of the social structure were slaves, typically prisoners of war or criminals.

Social mobility was very limited, although a person could occasionally rise through education or military service.

This rigid social structure remained remarkably stable for most of ancient Egypt's history.