Gen Z Isn't Lazy. They Literally Work More Than Anyone Ever

In today's video, we explore a shocking but important question: Did Ancient Egyptian pyramid workers and Roman slaves have better working conditions than Gen Z workers today? The answer might surprise you. Ancient Egyptian pyramid builders worked short, seasonal schedules with ample food rations and medical care. Ancient Roman slaves — even though they were not free — often worked fewer hours per day, received over 100 holidays per year, had greater job security, and even had real chances at social mobility through manumission. Meanwhile, Gen Z workers today face a harsh reality of 40+ hour weeks, stagnant wages, burnout, constant surveillance, and little to no job security. This video challenges the modern corporate narrative that exploitation is "normal" — and shows how modern workers might actually have it worse than many people across ancient history. Sources: Ancient Egypt (Pyramid Builders): Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids (Thames & Hudson, 1997) — for evidence that pyramid workers were paid laborers, not slaves, and worked seasonally during the Nile flooding. Zahi Hawass, "Pyramids Were Built by Paid Workers, Not Slaves," Smithsonian Magazine (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-built-the-pyramids-124418683/) — for archaeological evidence of labor villages and worker care. Dr. Joyce Tyldesley, Nefertiti's Face: The Creation of an Icon (Profile Books, 2018) — for additional background on labor practices and work-life balance in Ancient Egypt. "Daily Life of the Pyramid Builders," Ancient History Encyclopedia (https://www.worldhistory.org/article/892/daily-life-of-the-pyramid-builders/) — for details on work schedules, nutrition, and housing. Ancient Rome (Urban Slaves): Keith Bradley, Slavery and Society at Rome (Cambridge University Press, 1994) — for Roman slave working hours, conditions, and manumission practices. Seneca, Letters from a Stoic (c. 65 AD) — for Roman philosophical attitudes toward humane treatment of slaves (primary source). Sandra R. Joshel, Slavery in the Roman World (Cambridge University Press, 2010) — for details on economic investment in slaves and upward mobility. Mary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome (Liveright, 2015) — for broader Roman social context, holidays, and work-life balance. William V. Harris, Roman Terracottas and Other Studies — for Roman festivals like Saturnalia and cultural expectations around leisure. "Roman Working Hours and Holidays," World History Encyclopedia (https://www.worldhistory.org/article/657/roman-working-hours-and-holidays/) — for estimates on holidays and daily work routines. Contact: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter/X: https://x.com/Philogamerfr Join our wonderful Discord community: https://discord.gg/wewRvQ4hUc