Pyramids of Giza: History and Background of Egypt’s Most Famous Structures

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.

Various theories have emerged regarding the processes involved in constructing Egyptian pyramids. Notably, the construction methods evolved over time, with later pyramids differing from their older counterparts, indicating a progression in techniques.

The predominant building theories suggest that large stones were carved from quarries using copper chisels, then transported and lifted into place. However, much debate surrounds the procedures employed to move and arrange these colossal stones.

Controversies extend to the type of workforce engaged and persist in debates on construction methodologies. While the Greeks, many years later, speculated that the pyramids were erected using slave labor, contemporary archaeologists propose that tens of thousands of skilled laborers camped near the pyramids. These workers likely received compensation or worked as part of a tax payment system (levy) until the construction's completion, a conclusion drawn from the discovery of workers' tombs in 1990. Notably, foreign labor from Canaan was employed in constructing the Middle Kingdom Pyramid of Amenemhat II, as documented in the king's annal stone.