The World's First Strike: Ancient Artisans at Deir el-Medina Demand Rations

Deir El-Medina Strikes

I explore the Deir el-Medina strikes, the earliest recorded collective labor action in history, where artisans in the Valley of the Kings halted work during the reign of Ramesses III. Facing severe grain shortages and unpaid wages, these skilled workers marched to the vizier's office to demand their rations. This historical account reveals how economic instability and failed harvests led to organized protests, highlighting the workers' awareness of their value and their bold actions to secure food for their families.

"The prospect of hunger and thirst have driven us to this; there is no clothing, there is no ointment, there is no fish, there are no vegetable."