The ancient world, from the earliest times to 800 AD . en to the scribes. This learnedprofession was recruited from the brightest boys of the middleand lower classes. Most of the scribes found clerical workonly; but from the ablest ones the nobles chose confidentialsecretaries and stewards, and some of these, who showed special ability, were pro-moted by the pharaohsto the highest dignitiesin the land. Such menfounded new families andreinforced the ranks ofthe nobility. The soldiers formed animportant were so deadlythat it was hard to findsoldiers enough. Ac-cordingly recr
The ancient world, from the earliest times to 800 AD . en to the scribes. This learnedprofession was recruited from the brightest boys of the middleand lower classes. Most of the scribes found clerical workonly; but from the ablest ones the nobles chose confidentialsecretaries and stewards, and some of these, who showed special ability, were pro-moted by the pharaohsto the highest dignitiesin the land. Such menfounded new families andreinforced the ranks ofthe nobility. The soldiers formed animportant were so deadlythat it was hard to findsoldiers enough. Ac-cordingly recruits weretempted by offers ofspecial privileges. Eachsoldier held a farm ofsome eight acres,^ freefrom taxes; and he waskept under arms onlywhen his services wereneeded. Besides this reg-ular soldiery, the peas-antry were called outupon occasion, for war orfor was also a large body of officials, organized in manygrades like the officers of an army. Every despotic governmenthas to have such a class, to act as eyes, hands, and feet; but. Portrait Statue of Amten, amade noble of 3200 self- 1 For Egypt this was a large farm. See page 20. §13] LIFE OF THE PEOPLE 23 in ancient Egypt the royal servants were particularly numerousand important. Until the seventh century the Egyptianshad no money. Thus the immense royal revenues, as well as alldebts between private men, had to be collected in tax-collectors and treasurers had to receive geese, ducks,cattle, grain, wine, oil, metals, jewels, —all that the heavens
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecthistoryancient, booky
