Mortality rates
Life expectancy in ancient Egypt was lower than many modern populations. Whilst some ancient Egyptians undoubtedly enjoyed a long life, most were unlikely to live beyond around 40 years of age. This may seem young by today's standards, but it is important to view age within the context of a particular society. Today people are shocked at the death of King Tutankhamun at the age of about 18 years, yet in his own society he was already 'mature' in terms of family and kingly responsibility.
Many women died as young adults, and childbirth complications may well have been the cause. Ideally Ancient Egyptians wanted large families. Children were needed to help with family affairs and to look after their parents in their old age. This would have led to women having numerous children, and for some women these successive pregnancies would have been fatal. Even after giving birth successfully, women could still die from complications such as puerperal fever. It was not until the 20th century that improved standards of hygiene during childbirth started to prevent such deaths.
People are open to the greatest health risks during infancy and early childhood, and in Egypt, there was a high infant mortality rate. During the breastfeeding period the baby is protected from infections by drinking mother's milk, but once onto solid foods the chances of infection are high. Consequently many infants would have died of diarrhoea and similar disorders caused by food contaminated by bacteria or even intestinal parasites. In some ancient Egyptian cemeteries at least a third of all burials are those of children.
Many women died as young adults, and childbirth complications may well have been the cause. Ideally Ancient Egyptians wanted large families. Children were needed to help with family affairs and to look after their parents in their old age. This would have led to women having numerous children, and for some women these successive pregnancies would have been fatal. Even after giving birth successfully, women could still die from complications such as puerperal fever. It was not until the 20th century that improved standards of hygiene during childbirth started to prevent such deaths.
People are open to the greatest health risks during infancy and early childhood, and in Egypt, there was a high infant mortality rate. During the breastfeeding period the baby is protected from infections by drinking mother's milk, but once onto solid foods the chances of infection are high. Consequently many infants would have died of diarrhoea and similar disorders caused by food contaminated by bacteria or even intestinal parasites. In some ancient Egyptian cemeteries at least a third of all burials are those of children.