ELI5: How were the Egyptian pyramids built?

The Egyptian pyramids were built by thousands of regular workers who cut giant stone blocks from the ground and pulled them up giant ramps using sledges, ropes, and lots of teamwork.

Imagine you want to build the world's biggest fort in your living room, but your toy blocks are made of heavy stone and weigh as much as a family car. You cannot pick them up with your hands, so you have to use everyday problem-solving to move them.

Here is how everyday Egyptians worked together to build the pyramids:

• Carving the blocks: Workers used simple copper chisels and hard pounding stones like hammers to cut massive rocks out of the ground. It was like carving a giant block of hard cheese with a butter knife, just taking a lot more time and effort.
• Floating on the river: Many of the best stones were far away. The builders put them on wooden boats and sailed them down the Nile River, using the water to easily carry the heavy weight, just like you floating on a pool raft.
• Sliding on the sand: Wheels would get stuck in the soft desert sand, just like a bicycle does at the beach. Instead, workers tied the rocks to big wooden sleds. People would pour water on the sand right in front of the sled to make it slippery, making the heavy load twice as easy to pull.
• Going up the ramps: To get the blocks high into the sky, builders made long, sloping dirt ramps. It is much easier to push a heavy wagon up a hill than it is to lift it straight over your head. As the pyramid grew taller, they made the ramps higher too.