The newest theories that I have been reading is that there is no evidence that the ancient Egyptians used slave labor, except for one period, when the Hebrews were enslaved. This implies that slavery was invented as a way of controlling the Hebrews, rather than because it was needed for labor. Evidence which has been recently excavated show that the Pyramid builders lived as free men, not as slaves (their houses were not prisons, and allowed easy entrance and exit). They apparently built the pyramids as part of their own religious observances, worshipping their Pharoah/God.
There are extensive periods of time each year where a great deal of the population was out of work, due to flooding. They were put to work, paid, fed etc. by the Pharaohs. It kept them busy and happy with their rulers. Hence there was no need for slaves. wacsog10 (27)
DeMille could have used you guys when he was hammering together his epics.
OTOH, Cecil created history out in La-La Land where spectacle trumps accuracy.
