Well then probably paid from the profits of slavery. That much labor could not have been cheap.
Also I imagine they had divisions of labor. The guys who knew how to calculate the angle of the triangle or artisans who could shape the stone were probably not the same guys pushing rocks.
I’m listening to Fall of Civilizations right now on ancient egypt and the pharaoh wouldn’t allow something as important as direct labor of the pyramids to slaves. Instead, slaves would work to mine the materials but the construction would be done by paid laborers.
Depending on how exactly you draw the line on ‘slavery’… maybe? Kinda?
For the Great Pyramid, the current approximate consenus is that it was basically a corvee labor system for a large amount of the population of Egypt.
Basically, when the farmers were all in their off season, they’d be drafted for a number of months a year to aid construction as general laborers.
They were housed, fed, and paid for this, by the state/royal coffers.
They were paid in material goods like foodstuffs, as currency in the way we think of it wasn’t really a thing at the time.
And yes, they absolutely did have divisions of labor, they had basically nobility or psuedo nobilility people who could largely read and write as trained architects and engineers and mathematicians and record keepers and accountants, and had a whole slew of the craftsmen / stone mason class below them.
So… it is forced labor, you couldn’t really opt out, but you would be compensated.
Egypt did have roughly chattel slaves at the time, they probably participated as well, but they are estimated to be 10% of the total population of Egypt at the time.
Though I’d bet that any that tried arguing against the “sacred privilegness” had some sort of severe physical punishment, perhaps against them directly or perhaps against the people of the region they were from.
To: All Staff
From: Morale Department
Subj: EXCITING new partnership!
Team, big news! After a very productive meeting, we’ve received a special clarification directly from the Vatican on workplace motivation!
Turns out, Colossians 3:23 (“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord”) is now considered binding corporate policy.
So, effective immediately, hitting your quarterly goals is a direct path to salvation. On the flip side, slacking off is… well, let’s just say the paperwork for eternal damnation is a real hassle for everyone involved.
iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 8 months ago
The current understanding is actually that the builders would have been paid.
jaybone@lemmy.zip 8 months ago
Well then probably paid from the profits of slavery. That much labor could not have been cheap.
Also I imagine they had divisions of labor. The guys who knew how to calculate the angle of the triangle or artisans who could shape the stone were probably not the same guys pushing rocks.
pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 months ago
I’m listening to Fall of Civilizations right now on ancient egypt and the pharaoh wouldn’t allow something as important as direct labor of the pyramids to slaves. Instead, slaves would work to mine the materials but the construction would be done by paid laborers.
msage@programming.dev 8 months ago
So, just like us right now?
sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 months ago
Depending on how exactly you draw the line on ‘slavery’… maybe? Kinda?
For the Great Pyramid, the current approximate consenus is that it was basically a corvee labor system for a large amount of the population of Egypt.
Basically, when the farmers were all in their off season, they’d be drafted for a number of months a year to aid construction as general laborers.
They were housed, fed, and paid for this, by the state/royal coffers.
They were paid in material goods like foodstuffs, as currency in the way we think of it wasn’t really a thing at the time.
And yes, they absolutely did have divisions of labor, they had basically nobility or psuedo nobilility people who could largely read and write as trained architects and engineers and mathematicians and record keepers and accountants, and had a whole slew of the craftsmen / stone mason class below them.
So… it is forced labor, you couldn’t really opt out, but you would be compensated.
Egypt did have roughly chattel slaves at the time, they probably participated as well, but they are estimated to be 10% of the total population of Egypt at the time.
pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 months ago
If you died on the job you would also get to be buried in the pyramid so that’s nice
Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Though I’d bet that any that tried arguing against the “sacred privilegness” had some sort of severe physical punishment, perhaps against them directly or perhaps against the people of the region they were from.
laz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 months ago
To: All Staff From: Morale Department Subj: EXCITING new partnership!
Team, big news! After a very productive meeting, we’ve received a special clarification directly from the Vatican on workplace motivation!
Turns out, Colossians 3:23 (“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord”) is now considered binding corporate policy.
So, effective immediately, hitting your quarterly goals is a direct path to salvation. On the flip side, slacking off is… well, let’s just say the paperwork for eternal damnation is a real hassle for everyone involved.
Let’s get to work, saints! 😉
SleepyPie@lemmy.world 8 months ago
In just enough beer to survive their next shift
PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Egyptian labor unions lol
lunarul@lemmy.world 8 months ago
I remember reading about pyramid workers going on strike to request a higher make-up quota.