An Egyptian boy between the ages of eleven and twelve did many things to prepare for adulthood. Few went to scribe school, but parents encouraged their sons to do so. The school was called "House of Life." Those who did not go to the school served as apprentices to their fathers in their jobs, such as tradesmen or craftsmen, so they could take over their father's job when he died. For example, if a father was a tradesman and he died, the son would take over his business. Farmers' sons would tend the fields if their father were to pass away.
Much attention was placed to family life and to life at home. Boys were to look after their elders and showed much respect to them. Most Egyptians lived in small, mud huts with a flat roof. The roof provided a cooking area for the family, because the rest of the house was used for places to sleep and for the little amount of furniture they had. If a parent was to die, the son inherited his or her land to grow crops or raise livestock. Boys usually married at about age thirteen or fourteen.
I think life as an Egyptian boy would be interesting and
challenging for me. It must have been hard to be eleven or twelve in
ancient Egypt.
References
People of Ancient Egypt. December 4, 2000 <http://www.iwebquest.com/egypt/ancientegyptcontents.html> .
Egypt: Daily Life. December 4, 2000 <http://www2.sptimes.com/Egypt/EgyptCredit.4.2.htm>.
Daily Life. December 11, 2000. <http://www.clpgh.org/cmnh/exhibits/egypt/dailylife.html>.
Daily Life. December 11, 2000 <http://www.verdenet.com/isis/upperlife.htm>.
