Final answer:
The ability to carry heavy wooden pillars primarily depends on physical strength, a trait that was crucial for ancient civilizations to build large structures without modern machinery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of strong men and thin men to carry thick pillars of wood can be attributed to differences in physical strength. Despite cultural practices or technological advancements, physical capability plays a pivotal role in performing such demanding physical tasks.
Ancient civilizations, without modern technology, relied on their innovation and understanding of natural materials to construct large structures. Systems like the post and lintel, used in the construction of the Palace of Karnak, exemplify the ingenuity of early engineering methods to overcome the limitations of their times.
These civilizations engaged in extensive trade and developed specialized occupations to meet the demands of the ruling class, who aspired to erect monumental structures without the assistance of machines like tractors or forklifts present in contemporary construction.