The pharaoh was the leader of ancient Egyptian society. He ruled Egypt with the help of a small group of officials and priests, who were usually members of the richest families in Egypt. These officials came up with political plans and presented them to the pharaoh. If the pharaoh liked the plans, he would make them law. The pharaoh also made up his own laws.

The pharaoh was at the top of Egyptian society, with his officials and high priests just below him. Scribes—people who could write—made up the next level of society. They kept records of laws and other government activities, including information about the lives of the pharaohs. Soldiers, craftsmen, and traders were just below them.

At the bottom of society were average Egyptians. Most of them were farmers. Tens of thousands of those average Egyptians were willing to work on the pyramids because they believed that the pharaoh needed the pyramid to travel to the afterlife. They all wanted to go to the afterlife, too, and they thought the pyramids made that possible.