Skilled paid stonemasons were required to build the tight fitting surface stones of this one, so some of the laborers were definitely not slaves, howeveri believe you’re correct I doubt the sled drag team was salary.
It’s not like any other country was that keen on building pyramids, like ever. Which of the cultures and/or races they enslaved would have experienced pyramid builders to boot?
Even in Egypt, building pyramids was a very niche hobby.
I dunno, I wasn’t around. We have records of different “levels” of slaves in Rome (2000 years later) so it’s possible.
Then again, I think the Nile was the only river providing so much bounty that all the labour could go into such large projects. Obviously Mesopotamia was doing well at the same time, but I don’t think they were doing the same level of megaprojects. BUT, my view is biased I’m that I’m not really aware of sources before about 500BC, so there could have been other megaprojects that didn’t survive.
Regardless, I would estimate a hierarchy of builders and labourers is highly probable for the pryamids. The level of compensation and agency for each of those levels is something I don’t think we know (though this may be my personal blind spot).
I would be surprised if pyramid engineers/architects were allowed to leave their project sites or find other work. But that’s me placing my modern state and strategic lens on a important ressource.
If you want to be remembered forever, a Pete’s Pyramid is the only way to guarantee you and your slaves will be entombed forever. Our Ra-proof quadruple slope technology is perfectly aligned with astrological precision to make sure all your worldly belongings make it to the next realm. Ask about our embalming subscription package to keep your organs in the best shape possible.
By all accounts the builders of the pyramids actually had nice places to live, and a higher quality of life than most Egyptians. In truth there is literally no evidence they were slaves outside of the story of Moses.
Ah, going the George Bush route that the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. So, let me tell you about the unicorns on Mars. What, you can't prove they're not there.
Seriously though, we do have quite a few records from then since the Egyptian kings really wanted people to know about them. We also have archeological finds of where the workers lived. Also in them being given lavish tombs that regular Egyptians at the time didn't. This stuff is really not hard to look up.
It’s important to note that the real disparity may be even far worse.
OCHA-OPT (the committee gathering this data) is strict about verifying validity of Palestinian casualties, requiring two independent, verified and non-affiliated sources. Casualties in Israel, however, they trust the media at face value. They also exclude a lot of Palestinian casualties even when verified in certain situations. Example, and I quote them:
People who were killed or injured in conflict-related incidents that took place in Israel and did not involve residents of the oPt are also excluded.
oPt (occupied Palestinian territories) are the areas that Israel does not directly oversee. So most of Israel is not oPt by their criteria.
Israel is notorious for restricting journalists reporting on Israeli crimes, and has murdered journalists countless of times, like last year the Christian Palestinian Shireen Abu Akleh reporting on the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Sheikh Jarrah (so not even in a war zone area). This causes many casualties to go unverified and thus undocumented.
And Israel has been caught lying before about its own casualties, like the 40 beheaded babies.
They’ve got a long road ahead of them to kill that many people but i admit the thought occurred to me as well. There does seem to be a ratio being followed here.
Given Israel’s rhetoric, they are literally letting us know the number will climb much higher. But the West is too busy condemning Hamas, and will sponsor yet another genocide in the modern era.
Definitely helps that Hamas uses the Palestinian people as human shields launching rockets from schools and hospitals.
Just stop and consider the psyche that takes. You have to 1) be completely willing to sacrifice the most vulnerable of your own people and 2) admit that your enemy doesn’t want to kill those same people. Imagine how things may go if Israel attempted to use Jews as human shields against Hamas.
This isn’t the Palestinian people “resisting”, it’s their batshit “government” that would kill us all if they had their way, killing as many people as they can regardless of whether it actually helps the cause of their people.
There is no doubt the Israeli government has and continues to commit war crimes. But supporting or justifying Hamas is just insane.
Imagine how things may go if Israel attempted to use Jews as human shields against Hamas.
You mean like putting many settlements and civilians right on the border of Gaza, a concentration camp and active war Zone? Or allowing a rave dance to occur at the gates of a concentration camp and active war zone, and next to a military base that would be targeted by Hamas? And sprinkle in some IDF tanks while you’re at it.
Didn’t look like you’re replying to anyone supporting Hamas.
Also, there is an alternative #2 in your scenario. “Know your enemy would lose too much western support too readily if they were to fine on all the civilian targets they would like to”.
@matcha_addict
The issue here is similar to most of the land contest issues in the world: what historical period you use to determine land ownership. As an example: most of the current territory of Russia was once occupied by Mongolian tribes under the leadership of Chenghis Khan. So if that's the frame of reference you use, Mongolia has legitimate rights to wage war to reclaim their land.
I have a solution for you: why shouldn’t we live with Israelis in peace? Why can’t we have a Democratic state for all? Israel loses this “historical land” battle, but even if they didn’t, does that justify massacre? Palestinians have always advocated a state for all, but Israel never agrees.
@matcha_addict I agree with you. Historically Jews and Arabs that occupied this land are the same people with different religious beliefs. They are all Semites. They should be able to live together.
Globally speaking, the borders of counties are just arbitrarily drawn lines on the map. Lines, drawn by individual people who decided for the masses where they can and cannot have a home.
I believe, we as humans, should abolish borders of any kind.
@matcha_addict But I'm afraid this idea has no traction. It's only going to be possible if we as humanity realize that we are not alone in the universe and another species threatens us from outer space. I don't know any other way that we can all unite as earthlings and realize the fallacy of carving up the world into spheres of influence for a few, mostly militaristic men.
I have one of those giant hamster wheels for our cat. If you use the laser pointer and get her to chase it on the cat-wheel, when she tries to stop when at full speed, she goes all the way around and the wheel spits her out. Funny as hell. Then she goes back for more. Cat loves the wheel.
You work hard for money -> so you buy unnecessary stuff since you earned it -> you have no money -> you work hard for money…
I have quit this loop by limiting my consumption to minimum. My friends ask me why don’t I buy X if I can easily afford it and it will make my life better. Well, not better enough to justify waste of both my money/time and Earth’s resources to manufacture something.
Also over-consumption is a fuel to capitalist dystopia.
While this is true, this is severely short sighted and misses the perspective of being impoverished and constantly being unable to make ends meet even after you have cut luxury from your life.
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