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In the 1840s, most Egyptians-- like most other people in the world at that time-- were farmers, and their most common crops were wheat and barley. The Egyptians took advantage of the Nile River, the largest rive in the world, which flowed through the country, renewed their soil, and allowed their crops to flourish.

Egyptian farmers lived simply compared to modern times. They grew most of what they ate, including radishes, melons, and onions. They also made their own drink-- this was often beer, which they brewed from the barley they grew. They raised lambs and goats to supply them with milk and meat. They also grew flax, which they processed into the linen that made the clothes they wore.

An Egyptian farmer typically had a large family to assist in their planting and harvesting. Oxen were the animal of choice by farmers, and farm equipment was designed around them. There are many drawings showing the Egyptians ploughing and harvesting with a lone ox or a pair of oxen. The harvest was often taken to market and sold in major cities like Alexandria, though sometimes it was exported to the farthest reaches of Europe and Asia.

The farmers learned to use the Nile to their advantage. They coordinated their planting around the rise and fall of the river to ensure the maximum growth of their crops. The Egyptians also used irrigation systems to ensure thirsty crops received enough water in the desert climate.

The farmers typically lived in houses constructed of dried mud. Often, they would sleep outside on the roof at night because of the heat. Farmers seldom lived where they farmed, but rather in villages nearby. The people gathered in villages for protection, and often because farmers worked on land that was owned by someone else.

A typical day for a farmer had them up by dawn, as they wanted to get as much work done before the heat of the day became unbearable. At midday, the farmer and their family would take a long lunch break, often bathing in the Nile to combat the heat of the day. Their work day would then resume and conclude before dark, so that the farmer could return to their village before nightfall. As Tom and Huck experienced, there were many bandits in Egypt during this time, and people tried to not be out after dark.
Of course, there were jobs outside of farming for Egyptians in the 1840s, including soldiers, scribes, carpenters, and metal workers. There were abundant raw materials for metal making, and these professionals would create religious items to sell for ceremonial use.

While life in ancient Egypt sounds simpler than the present day, it was also more dangerous. Egypt was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire until 1839, when Egyptian troops defeated the Ottoman troops at the battle of Nizip. Throughout this tumultuous time, there were conflicts over the country’s border, exchanges of the ruling power, and conflicting beliefs between different groups within the large, still-developing country.

Want to learn more about Egypt’s past, including its legendary ancient period? There are thousands of years of history, literature and mythologies for you to explore-- just look for the hundreds of books and videos available on the subject online or at your local library!

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GLOSSARY

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Alexandria important ancient city in Egypt (which still remains the country’s second largest city) founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.
Barley a common grain grown in temperate climates around the world.
Export sending a good or service to another country.
Irrigation using water (often by digging channels) to help props grow.
Ottoman Empire a vast empire based in what is now modern Turkey that ruled the Middle East for 500 years.
Oxen domestic bovine animals.

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