The building of the pyramids conjures images of slaves dying of exhaustion after working endlessly under the fierce sun. Though the conditions were no doubt difficult, one may be surprised by a few details of the Egyptian working life. Slaves didn't built the pyramids. Rather, peasants did when they could not work on their crops due to flooding. As well, they enjoyed at least some basic worker rights. Workers were given rations, and (at least as early as 1170 BC) there were reports of strikes if rations were not provided. Instead of being met with violence, a vizier would be sent to address the problem, and sometimes the project head would be punished.
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