How were slaves treated in Egyptian society?

Many slaves who worked for temple estates lived under punitive conditions, but on average the Ancient Egyptian slave led a life similar to a serf. They were capable of negotiating transactions and owning personal property. Chattel and debt slaves were given food but probably not given wages.

What role did slaves play in Egypt?

Slaves were used to do a variety of jobs. Many of them worked labor jobs, like working on a farm or constructing buildings. Slaves were a big part of the labor workforce in ancient Egypt. Those who worked as house servants took care of the cooking, cleaning, gardening, and even the children.

What were Egyptian slaves called?

Military slavery From 935 to 1250, Egypt was controlled by dynastic rulers, notably the Ikhshidids, Fatimids, and Ayyubids. Throughout these dynasties, thousands of Mamluk servants and guards continued to be used and even took high offices. The Mamluks were essentially enslaved mercenaries.

Was there slaves in ancient Egypt?

Apparently there were at least 30,000 slaves in Egypt at different times of the nineteenth century, and probably many more. White slaves were brought to Egypt from the eastern coast of the Black Sea and from the Circassian settlements of Anatolia via Istanbul.

How were slaves punished in ancient Egypt?

In some cases, the pharaoh appointed a special commission with full authority to pass judgment. Punishment for serious crimes included penal servitude and execution; mutilation and flogging were often used to punish lesser offenders.

What kinds of work did slaves do?

Besides planting and harvesting, there were numerous other types of labor required on plantations and farms. Enslaved people had to clear new land, dig ditches, cut and haul wood, slaughter livestock, and make repairs to buildings and tools.

When did Egypt end slavery?

Trade in African slaves had been abolished in Egypt in 1877, and the Bureau had been created to search for unlawful caravans and enforce the abolition. When Muhammad Shaghlub left Kerdessa to scout the streets of Cairo for buyers, he would have done so with great care.

What did Egyptian slaves wear?

Slaves often worked naked. Unique headdresses included the khat, a loose headcloth worn by men of noble rank, and the nemes, a striped cloth reserved for monarchs.

Were slaves used to build the pyramids?

Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t slaves who built the pyramids. We know this because archaeologists have located the remains of a purpose-built village for the thousands of workers who built the famous Giza pyramids, nearly 4,500 years ago.