Akcshually: In addition to the many unresolved arguments about the construction techniques, there have been disagreements as to the kind of workforce used. The Greeks, many years after the event, believed that the pyramids were built by slave labour. Archaeologists now believe that the Great Pyramid of Giza (at least) was built by tens of thousands of skilled workers who camped near the pyramids and worked for a salary or as a form of tax payment (levy) until the construction was completed, pointing to workers’ cemeteries discovered in 1990. For the Middle Kingdom pyramid of Amenemhat II, there is evidence from the annal stone of the king that foreigners from Canaan were employed.
sauce: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_pyramid_construction_techniques
People always say they weren’t slaves, and point to a “levy” system, but rarely seem to ask themselves if being conscripted to perform forced labor for the aristocracy is slavery.
“How did they move such massive blocks of stone?”
“They had whips. They had massive, massive whips.”
Akcshually:
In addition to the many unresolved arguments about the construction techniques, there have been disagreements as to the kind of workforce used. The Greeks, many years after the event, believed that the pyramids were built by slave labour. Archaeologists now believe that the Great Pyramid of Giza (at least) was built by tens of thousands of skilled workers who camped near the pyramids and worked for a salary or as a form of tax payment (levy) until the construction was completed, pointing to workers’ cemeteries discovered in 1990. For the Middle Kingdom pyramid of Amenemhat II, there is evidence from the annal stone of the king that foreigners from Canaan were employed.
sauce: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_pyramid_construction_techniques
People always say they weren’t slaves, and point to a “levy” system, but rarely seem to ask themselves if being conscripted to perform forced labor for the aristocracy is slavery.
You smeeee-heeeee!