People are barfing that up a lot lately, but the only reliable source I’ve seen shows that the people who built the pyramids were being paid in bread and beer; that is, they were receiving the necessities of life, not payment.
Giving slaves the necessities of life and calling it payment to justify the slavery is as old as … well, the pyramids at least.
But… That’s… What a barter society does? Ancient Egypt didn’t have currency, it was a barter-based society. You don’t have a farm or land to grow your own food? You work for someone else to get food, or resources to trade for food, drinks, shelter, medicine etc. They were also given good cuts of meat and had good barracks/quarters to live in nearby villages while working there. Workers who died were even buried in well stocked tombs near the pyramids which was a place of honor, slaves would likely be put in mass graves, unmarked graves, and/or far from the pyramids.
What were non-slave workers (working on the pyramids or not) in ancient Egypt paid with if working for good food, drink, and shelter is only for slaves? A currency that didn’t exist? The profound pleasure of working for the pharaoh while having a farm of their own at home for food?
They were also given good cuts of meat and had good barracks/quarters to live in nearby villages while working there.
I’d like to see a source for that.
Workers who died were even buried in well stocked tombs near the pyramids which was a place of honor
Man that’s even worse than the bread and beer thing. “You’re not slaves because when you die on the job we bury you in a better hole!”
I’d like to see a source for that.
Buildings, conditions, etc. Sources at bottom - https://historycollection.com/this-is-what-life-was-like-for-an-egyptian-worker-building-the-pyramids/
Man that’s even worse than the bread and beer thing. “You’re not slaves because when you die on the job we bury you in a better hole!”
Being buried near their pharaoh was a huge honor for them, being buried near their actual god incarnate. It would be like christians being buried near Jesus. A key part was also that they were actual tombs (not just holes, actual crafted tombs and burial chambers) plus they were stocked with things they would need in the afterlife, neither of which would be done for slaves.
Plus, many workers were farmers who would work on the pyramids during their off-season then go back to their families/farms at the end of the season (see the sources above)
Sure. It’s a barter society where one class holds literally all of the power.
“It’s this deal because I’m a god!” You’re just not gunna argue with a god on earth.
it’s a barter society where one class holds literally all the power
You’re phrasing these like they’re contradictory statements when they’re not incompatible concepts at all.
