Slavery

 = Slavery in the Roman Empire  =

Although slavery in the Ancient Roman Empire was violent and cruel, it was a major part of Rome. The slaves were mostly foreign and included captured peoples of war torn countries or seamen who were sacked by pirates. However, occasionally, poor Roman families would sell their offspring into slavery just to make some money. ([|Devillier Donegan Enterprises]) There were so many slaves due to the rise of Rome’s significance in the Mediterranean (Bunson, p 390) that they merged with common citizens and made it difficult to tell the two apart.   Even though slavery was common and accepted in Rome, the slaves still had great amounts of work and were treated unfairly. Both the labor and their families were owned by their masters, who could treat them as they pleased. Slaveowners could sell, rent, whip, brand, or even kill their slaves without retribution. ([|Devillier Donegan Enterprises] ) Even though laws were passed that promoted the humane treatment of slaves (Bunson, p 391), influential or wealthy slaveowners could still literally get away with murder.

All slaves could work privately in a household, or publicly for the government. The public slaves had duties such as maintaining public buildings, serving officers, or acting as an executioner. Nevertheless, public slavery was favored because there was more personal freedom and a smaller chance of being sold. In some instances, slaves could even own a small amount of property—something unheard of in the history of slave labor. Private slaves worked either inside the household, doing common chores, or in the fields as a shepherd, farmer, or gatherer. Later on in the empire, tenant farming became a substitute for slavery on farms due to the government’s apprehension of letting landowners have a “virtual army of slaves” right on their own property. (Bunson, p 391)

However grueling the work might be, a slave didn’t have to give up all hope—they could be freed if their masters chose to do so. The owners would either free their slaves by their own accord, or they could buy their freedom. The small chance of being freed was enough for a slave to work hard and be obedient to their masters. Formal manumission, or official freedom, was executed by a government official and gave the newly freed slaves full rights and citizenship, except for the right to hold office. Children of freedmen received full rights. However, informal manumission, or unofficial freedom, didn’t give slaves rights or citizenship, and anything property or money they acquired during their lifetime was given back to their owner after death. After being granted freedom, slaves could work as craftsmen, midwives, or traitors. However, they found it hard to escape their reputation and former status, which was difficult in a time when social standing meant everything in Rome. ([|Devillier Donegan Enterprises] )

Works Cited: Bunson, Matthew. “Slavery.” __Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire__. Ed. Matthew Bunson. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1994 __ Egyptian Slavery __. Aldokkan. 10 Nov. 2008. 3 Dec. 2008  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">< <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">[|http://www].aldokkan.com/society/slavery.htm  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Heritage History. 2007. 3 Dec. 2008 [|http://www.heritage-history.com/www/] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">heritage.php?R_menu=OFF&Dir=wars&FileName=wars_servile.php <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">"Slaves and Freemen." __The Roman Empire__. 2006. PBS. 1 Dec. 2008 [|http://www.pbs] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">.org/empires/romans/empire/slaves_freemen.html.