A Day in the Life of an

Ancient King
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live as a king
in ancient times? Well, let's take a trip back in time to explore a
typical day in the life of an ancient king.

07:00: Rise and Shine

The king started each day with a knock on his door. The king
had many personal servants who came to his room and
helped him get dressed into his expensive clothes. Some
mornings, the servants would heat up a bath for him –
but this would take hours! Breakfast included fruits,
honey, bread, and poultry from the palace gardens.

9:00 Court
After breakfast, it was time for business.
The king would hold court, where he'd meet
with advisors, nobles, and officials to discuss
matters of the kingdom. The king would
employ the smartest people from all over the
land to be part of his court. They would give
him information, advice, and warnings. They
talked about everything: trades, taxes and laws.
The king’s decisions were very important for the
future of the kingdom.

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12:00 Lunch
Sometimes, the kings’ meal would be prepared by hundreds of people! The
king got to eat all the best foods in the kingdom. Lunchtime was bigger
than breakfast, with many items on the menu. He often had guests join
him, usually rich businesspeople or government officials.

13:00 Leisure
After a heavy lunch, the king would usually take some time to relax. He
usually enjoyed a game of chess or took a walk in the palace gardens.
Sometimes, he would sit by his desk and read books, or write letters to
important people all around the world.

17:00 Public Appearance

As the sun began to set, the king would prepare for public appearances.
He wore his most beautiful robes and went to the grand hall. These
appearances were important to keep the connection between the king and
his people. He'd listen to their concerns, offer guidance, and sometimes even
make announcements about the kingdom's future.

19:00 Dinner & Entertainment

The king would enjoy another splendid meal in the evening. Entertainment
was common; usually dinner would also include music, storytelling, or
theatre performances. The king and his guests would enjoy the shows.

22:00 Back to Bed

After a long day, our ancient king would go back to his room. His servants
would prepare a comfortable bed with the finest blankets and linens. As the
king slept, he had many soldiers and guards stand outside his door, to keep
him safe.

Being a king was one of the most privileged jobs in the world – he got the
world’s best food, entertainment, and clothes. But it wasn’t all fun – being
a king also requires wisdom, leadership, studying, and hard work. The
life of a king in ancient times was a unique blend of responsibility and
privilege.

What do you think? Could you be a king?

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Questions
Reading Comprehension Questions

1. When would the king relax and write letters?

2. When would the king see performances and shows?

3. Who was in the king’s court? What would they talk about?

4. When would guards stand outside the king’s door?

5. Why were his public appearances important?

6. What types of entertainment did the king usually experience?

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Writing Questions

1. Do you think being the king is a difficult job? Why or why not?

2. Do you think it was better to live as a king in ancient times, or as a normal person in
modern times? Why?

3. Do you think you could be a leader?

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Writing Activity

Your turn! Imagine your life as an ancient ruler. Make your schedule below.

Time: Activity:

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Answers
Reading Comprehension Answers:

1. Usually during the afternoon / after 1PM.

2. Usually in the evening / after 7PM.

3. Nobles and advisors were in the court. They discussed things like laws, taxes and trade.

4. At nighttime, while the king sleeps.

5. His public appearances helped maintain a connection with the people.

6. Usually music, shows, or storytelling.

Writing Questions and Activity:

Students’ own answers.

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so we try to keep these resources as general as possible.
There are many acronyms associated with English language teaching. These include (but are not limited to) ELT, TEFL, EFL, ELL, EAL and ESOL. While the term ESL may not fully represent the linguistic
backgrounds of all students, it is the most widely recognised term for English language teaching globally. Therefore, we use the term ‘ESL’ in the names of our resources to make them easy to find but they are
suitable for any student learning to speak English.

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