I think you might mean quite a bit earlier than the bronze age? I’m not an expert by any means but my understanding is that the Egyptian bureaucracy and a tax system meant that slaves could build the pyramids in the bronze age.
My understanding is that the “built by slaves” theory is a bit outdated. The pharaoh had access to a massive population and outside of harvest stations could be engaged in construction efforts. Slaves were very likely part of it too but not the majority of the workforce
Yes, it’s more complicated than I have painted it. There was stratification, kings and slave and all in between. But there was no wage labor. You are either paid for the product or you’re enslaved but you’re not temporarily unemployed or lose your job. You don’t lose your job to automation, your just done earlier
In bronze age, there were no jobs. People did what had to be done collectively and had a lot of leisure time
I think you might mean quite a bit earlier than the bronze age? I’m not an expert by any means but my understanding is that the Egyptian bureaucracy and a tax system meant that slaves could build the pyramids in the bronze age.
My understanding is that the “built by slaves” theory is a bit outdated. The pharaoh had access to a massive population and outside of harvest stations could be engaged in construction efforts. Slaves were very likely part of it too but not the majority of the workforce
Yeah, it was basically public works in the farming off season.
Yes, it’s more complicated than I have painted it. There was stratification, kings and slave and all in between. But there was no wage labor. You are either paid for the product or you’re enslaved but you’re not temporarily unemployed or lose your job. You don’t lose your job to automation, your just done earlier