[istjohn]

The pyramids is a perfect example of an elite few exploiting the labor of many. All that labor to build tombs for a small handful of people looking for an advantage in the after-life.

Sure, in some places and times there was enough slack to allow common people to celebrate festivals or partake in elaborate religious activities. But I think you underestimate how costly education was when every book had to be painstakingly copied by hand.