The New Kingdom and Social Structure

The New Kingdom represented Egypt's period of maximum expansion and cultural achievement. The society was notably structured yet relatively open, with distinct social classes and progressive attitudes toward women's rights.

Highlight: Women in Egyptian society enjoyed greater freedoms than their counterparts in other Near Eastern civilizations, including property rights and marriage autonomy.

Definition: The Egyptian religion was polytheistic, featuring multiple deities and a complex cult of the dead.

Example: The social hierarchy included high officials and priests at the top, followed by artisans and merchants, with workers and farmers forming the base.

Vocabulary: Hieroglyphic writing combined both ideographs (picture symbols) and phonograms (sound symbols).