#I think I did answer your question on what would happen if they refused to work,,,"they had no choice",,, I have no doubts they would be executed for this failure.
I think this post should have ended here. We have come full circle. Admitting this fundamental organizing principle of the society will prevent you from making a logical argument that slaves were not used. Every commoner was a slave. Commoners built the pyramids. The pyramids were built by slaves.
That the Pharaoh did not wholesale abuse his subjects was a matter of preference (and conjecture); he had every right to do this. It just made sense not to do it most of the time. A correlation to this is that I own my car and I can take a bat to it any time I want. No one can stop me. Its not illegal. But it is not productive either. Extending this concept to another human being is the essence of slavery.
The remainder of the arguments against slavery will fall apart hinged on this premise. If you can argue against the Pharaohs right to kill, without repercussion, anyone commoner he wished, then you have an interesting and persuasive argument. I'm not picking on Egypt. Any society that has this as an organizing principle fits the mold. The difference is that you can say one society treated their slaves better than others. While useful in putting them on a scale of 1-to-10, you'll find the line of people waiting to sign up for slavery is rather short nonetheless.
#I don't know about a depressed 'economic' situation or homeless subjects. These great work projects were for the benefit of just not only the rulers, but the whole Empire. "What was the level of awe felt towards these great structures by neighbouring States?
This argument fails considering the number of times that Egypt was invaded. They did stop Alexander from conquering Egypt though. Oh wait . . .
This comment is completely unquantifiable and did not stop Egypt's neighbors from waging war on them. Arguably they might have benefitted more from paved roads, higher city walls, better docks and expanded trade influences. Of course hindsight is 20/20. The purpose of the pyramids is, at its heart, religious. Religion is used to inspire and control the native population, not to awe your neighbors. The Germanic and Asiatic hordes that destroyed Rome didn't give any consideration to the wrath of the Roman gods they were incurring by sacking Roman cities.
Give one legitimate citing of a battle in ancient Egypt where the pyramids played a distinctive role. I've read lots of historical accounts and not one of them mentioned them even as a landmark. The pyramids were given as much consideration by the neighboring states as the Eiffel Tower was given by the Germans.
#("Which was not to make a better life")- I disagree with this. Those who went to do public work projects bettered their lives and their greater family lives a lot. Some did learn while away, they learnt a trade. very much like today. Others at the very least saved their Family having to feed 1 more mouth. Seems in the Old World of Egypt you were 1 of 6 things. A Ruler, a Mother, a farmer, an Artisan (trade), a Soldier or a member of a Vassal State.
Sure, they learned a trade. So they could build the next pyramid or pet project. I'm sure the slaves in the south were excellent at picking cotton. Your point?
#"economic,tax,overpriced".... remember there was no currency in Egypt, or anywhere in the "Known World". Currency first arrived onto any mainland in 586BC into Greece, same year that ancient Athens was raze by a mercenary army, no surprises there![$$]
I didn't use the word currency that I recall. If I did, it was meant as commerce, not the coins you are talking about. Economy and tax are independent concepts of currency. I don't think I need to go into detail on this. Overpriced was a joke in the context of the game which, after all, is what this forum is about.
#Yes maybe it is Slavery. Is been drafted into the Army Slavery??? - "probably"
Probably not if you are talking the modern equivalent as opposed to Ancient Egypt. Perhaps this was encouraged by my jury duty comment. This is a deeply flawed comparison and I won't take the issue to task here other than say I completely disagree.
#If you want written evidence. I listed 3 sources in my previous reply. But reading the Bible is not so easy,, even Christians still find complete differences in the same text. But go to the library and pick 10 books,,, select the index pages you need and read. Not all will be the same...lol
I would give you a list of books but I'm in Asia at the present period of life and finding Written English is a rare thing. But I will try. Check out the 4th Dynasty they built the Great Pyramids.
This is where you shift the burden to me to support your crumbling argument under the guise of me not doing my homework instead of you not doing yours. You have presented a logically inconsistent argument and have fallen back upon academia for support. If you do this, it is your responsibility to prove the authenticity and legitimacy of the sources. I have read many books on Egypt and one thing is pretty clear - they are all based upon opinion to some extent and they don't agree on all but the hardest of historical facts. It is the nature of the profession and why the History Channel can run back-to-back theories on the pyramids for a week straight without replaying the same show twice. You are picking which ones you want to believe. No harm in that. I do the same thing. Pointing at a college lecture/text is like rolling out the color wheel and saying that you now know everything needed about Picasso.
As was said, short of a TARDIS we'll never know for sure. If you are going to claim your way is right and only your way, you have the responsibility of supporting that positive claim with undeniable facts. So far, you have not. I will not make your argument for you. I have enough work making my argument.
So I thought a discussion was called for. 
) You call it bonded workman or whatever. How about we all agree they had no choice except to build the darn thing, it required a lot of granaries to bake the bread, and we can drop it.
... Hallejulah!... I mean 
