Craftspeople of Ancient Egypt: Tools, Trades, and Treasures

Hammers, fires, mud and gold. Welcome to Ancient Egypt's Workshop. Today we're heading to Egypt to see how papyrus was made and to Vietnam to explore traditional weaving techniques still used today. All to uncover the world of ancient Egyptian crafts people. I put this costume through the washing machine because it was wet from well that boat challenge I did and it's not looking the best. I mean it didn't look very good before. Also I'm wearing a jumper underneath this which is why I look so well fat, fatter. But the show goes on. What's up guys it's me Mr Bradley and if you've been following along with this video series you know we've been learning how to be a pharaoh. In today's video we're focusing on winning the hearts of the crafts people but to win them over we first need to understand their role in ancient Egyptian society. But before we begin please be sure to hit that subscribe button and get ready to do the starter questions on your screen now. In today's video we are uncovering the role of the crafts people in ancient Egypt and if you'd even like to go a step further and learn how to make your own ancient Egyptian jewellery at school or at home you can head over to our website where we have tons of free resources and learning material available for you right now. Crafts people were workers with skill. They weren't nobles or priests they were everyday Egyptians with hands of gold. Potters, painters, weavers, carpenters, stone carvers, metal workers, glass makers, jewellery makers, papyrus makers, leather makers. If you could make it they did it. Let's start with the potters. They made bowls, jars and giant pots of course to store food, water and offerings. They worked with clay and basically were the ancient Egyptian version of kitchenware. Weavers, they took flax from an aisle and turned it into linen for clothing. Every tunic, every robe made by hand on a loom. Linen could also be used for wrapping mummies and weavers could also use papyrus to weave baskets. Weavers also made sleeping mats. In ancient Egypt most people slept on the ground on mats instead of beds. That may seem unusual today but in rural Vietnam some families still use similar mats today. The third generation of this family doing this beautiful work. They weave clean big mat for people and the little material that we use here is what we call the paper reeds. In Egypt they have exactly the same things called the cypress papyrus. Smell it. It smells beautifully just like tea. After all the non-natural dye, it smells just like tea. This family has been weaving these beautiful traditional sleeping mats for generations. They make it look effortless. True skill in action. Although that didn't last long once they invited us to try it for ourselves. Loving the Christmas socks Madge. Merry Christmas. They're old as well. I don't have time for most of that. Here we're weaving one by threading long river reeds similar to papyrus tightly across a wooden frame. Each strand is pulled into place by hand building strong colourful layers using a technique unchanged for thousands of years. Metal workers. These guys melted copper, bronze and even gold to make tools, weapons, jewellery and all of that royal bling. Carpenters. They built furniture, chariots, doors and even coffins all from wood which was super rare and valuable in ancient Egypt because of course it was a desert country. Leather workers. They used animal hides to make sandals, belts, shields and bags. If it moved and it was tough, it was probably leather. Glass makers. They made tiny perfume bottles, beads and ornaments. You needed serious heat and serious skill and very steady hands. Painters. They added colour to temples, tombs and statues using natural pigments. Ancient Egyptian art all thanks to them. Stone carvers. They were the sculptors. They made statues, sarcophagi and hieroglyphics, all hammered into solid rock. Jewellery makers. These artists used gold, silver and colourful gems to create rings, necklaces and amulets. Their job, make the pharaoh look fabulous and keep evil spirits away. Papyrus makers. They turned swamp plants into scrolls. Fancy that. The ancient Egyptian version of paper. Now that you've learned about the craftspeople of ancient Egypt, it's time to win their hearts by learning their trade. Why not have a go at our printable activities on our website or follow along on our activity video where we will show you how to make your very own ancient Egyptian jewellery which all can be found on our website. Congratulations young pharaoh, you made it to the end of the video and won the hearts of the craftspeople of ancient Egypt. If this is the first video that you've just tuned into of this project, be sure to check out all the other videos before it on this project-based learning journey. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button and as always, thanks for watching, see you next time.