Slavery in Ancient Rome

Jasmine Tinnell, Halie Carby, Mitchell Carroll.

Slavery in Ancient Rome played an important role in the economy.

Slavery in Rome didn’t matter about race, but like modern slavery, it was still abusive and degrading.

In hard times, it was not unusual for Roman citizens to sell their children into slavery.

Slaves were considered property. Some harsh masters believed in the old proverb "Every slave is an enemy."

Enslaved people with talent, skill, or beauty commanded the highest prices, and many served as singers, scribes, jewelers, bartenders, and even doctors.

Slaves On Farms:

On farms, slaves produced foods and other materials. The most important crops slaves produced were wheat, olives, vines and grapes which were used for making wine.

Wine was like coffee to the Romans, olive oil was their butter, soap, and electricity.

They cooked with olive oil, put it in baths and burned it their lamps.

House Slaves

Slaves in the town typically performed in-house duties. These slaves performed maid services and cooking duties. Greek slaves, usually more educated than slaves of other regions, were used to tutor children.

Household slaves

Household slaves had regular contact with their masters. This contact allowed relationships to build. This increased the chances of more humane treatment. Also, slaves born into the household were treated better than the slaves brought in from outside Rome.

In addition to teaching, the more educated slaves performed several professional duties. They practiced medicine, architecture, and were even actors and musicians. Practicing medicine was not held in high regard in Rome. Therefore, slaves often practiced the medicine for the household.

Gladiators

A gladiator comes from the swordsman gladius, was an armed combat who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals.

Gladiators

Gladiators were slaves, They had to make an oath, this oath said “I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten and to be killed by the sword”

Audience

If the audience was satisfied with the gladiator, they could be spare their life. If the audience was not was not satisfied, they could order the gladiator to be slaughtered, that would take place for the spectators to see.

Resources

http://www.richeast.org/htwm/greeks/romans/slavery/slavery2.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator http://

www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/slavery_01.shtml

http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/slavery.htm