The Pharaohs may have believed that it was their links with the Gods that kept Egypt going, but really it was the hard work of the ordinary people. It was they who dug the soil, worked in the mines and quarries, sailed the boats on the river Nile, marched with the army into Syria or Nubia, cooked food and raised children. Slavery was not very important in ancient Egypt, but it did exist. Most of the slaves prisoners who had been captured during the many wars Egypt fought with their neighbors in the Near East. Slaves were usually treated well and were allowed to own property. Many Egyptian workers were serfs. This meant that their freedom was limited. They could be bought and sold along with the estates where they worked. Farmers had to be registered with the government. They have to sell crops at a fixed fields lay under water; many workers were recruited into public building projects. Punishment for those who ran away was harsh.

What according to the passage was the reason of ancient Egyptian progress and prosperity?

The labour and hard work of the and ordinary men in ancient Egypt

According to the passage, the reason for ancient Egypt's progress and prosperity was: The labour and hard work of the ordinary men and women in ancient Egypt.

Here's why:

• The entire first paragraph emphasizes the crucial role of ordinary people in various tasks essential for Egypt's functioning. These include farming, mining, transportation, military service, domestic duties, and child-rearing.