Slavery of Ancient Rome is one of the dark pages in its history, a controversial section of social life of several centuries BC. But modern "work" largely derives from the "slavery" of that era, and most professions arose under the slave system. Slave - free labor, loose change, a sign of prosperity and power of its owners.
Slavery contributed to the flourishing of ancient Rome and its institutions, and inhuman treatment of bonded people was perceived as the norm. Cruelty became commonplace in ancient Rome - this is how motivation, behavior and relations between masters and slaves were regulated.
What was life like in slave shackles?
Historians are inclined to believe that slaves were owned by many wealthy and influential citizens of ancient Romethat a large percentage of the population of the Ancient Roman Empire are slaves and their descendants. Bonded people had positions and duties in all spheres of society of that time - from the most dirty work in stables and slaughterhouses to overseers in prisons, stewards in the chambers of nobles and educators of their children. Educated slaves were clerks, teachers, and translators.
Slaves had no citizenship and property, but periodically slave owners generously gifted their bonded laborers and allowed domestic slaves to have concubines (sexual slaves) or families. They could give them money and personal items for their faithful service or in cases of protection involving a risk to their lives.
A humane attitude, normal attire and nutrition, the necessary treatment - the unheard of generosity of the owners.
Sometimes slaves managed to save a considerable amount of money in order to pay off and live freely. So a special class of former bonded or “freedmen” arose - a layer between the free and slaves, but they still had almost no rights.
The life of a slave was difficult, boring and monotonous, directly related to the occupation or measure of responsibility. The more gifted slaves were given crafts or art, while the strong physical ones did the hardest work - they were gladiators or squires of warriors.
The death of a slave did not upset anyone - in their place they took othersOften it was more profitable. But the new arrivals had to be kept in tight frames and heavy shackles so that they did not pose a threat to the owners.
It was forbidden to kill slaves, but it was possible to sell, donate, heavy fines were imposed for injuries and self-mutilation. Lepers, cripples, feeble and terminally ill slaves were ordered to be taken to the remote island of Aesculapius to "die free."
Slaves and slaves were divided into castes:
- Familia rustica (servants in the house);
- Familia urbana (for urban work);
- Managers (privileged);
- Servi privati (private property);
- Servi publici (for public and urban works).
Not all slaves wore shackles, but they became a symbol of slavery for all time. Another sign is a pierced right ear with a round earring. Sometimes they sold themselves into slavery voluntarily, for the sake of food, then with witnesses to the slave or slave they pierced the ear with the awl to the door, pulling the ring. Such a slave was supposed to be released after 7-10 years at his request, but this was extremely rare.
They sold into slavery their children, beautiful girls and pretty young men accustomed to prostitution. But they could release or expel a terminally ill slave or the elderly, who became a burden in the house - such were the customs of Ancient Rome.
Some modern names and professions occurred in those days. For example, a calculator is a math teacher, and a grammaticus is a language and literacy teacher. Consonant with ours and bibliothecarius - librarian, cocus - cook, cook.
Sources of slavery - where did the slaves come from?
Captured warriors and captured slaves during the campaigns of the conquerors on neighboring lands are the main source of supply of slaves to slave markets. Therefore, it was mainly foreigners, moreover, from different walks of life, right up to rulers of different ranks.
Ancient historians wrote that prisoners from all over the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East were brought to the Roman Empire. Any foreigner was considered racially inferior, but the citizens of Rome had the greatest rights and privileges.
Other sources of slave capture:
- Victims of pirates (robbery in galleys) and shipwrecks;
- Chronic creditors (determined by the court), who had to work off debts for many years along with slaves - debt slavery;
- Maxima capitis diminutio - convicted of serious crimes (slaves serving prisons, galley rowers, quarry workers);
- Refugees from other lands after starvation and natural disasters;
- Children born from concubines and slaves are classic slavery.
Trading slaves was profitable, transactions were taxed, and it was a lucrative article of the city treasury. Subjugated, specially trained and educated slaves who knew several languages were worth more. Prices for them all the time changed. As is known from the Bible, for Jesus (a free preacher) the Pharisees gave Judah 30 pieces of silver, respectively, a slave is cheaper. But this is within the Roman Empire, and in Rome itself, given the delivery, the captives became many times more expensive.
In the 4th century BC. the Romans approved the "Law of Petelia", which forbade the slaves of their fellow citizens, the inhabitants of Rome. According to another law, a free woman who voluntarily entered into a relationship with a slave she liked became a slave.
Statistical reference:
- Only 209 BC 30 thousand inhabitants of Puglia were sold in Rome;
- In 167 BC 150 thousand were imported from Greece and Macedonia;
- 146 BC more than 50 thousand inhabitants of Corinth and Carthage were captured;
- Almost 1 million Gauls were captured during the campaigns under Julius Caesar in the years 58-50. BC.;
- Residents of many cities from Spain fell on the slave markets of Rome in the 1st century. BC.;
- Under the emperor Troyan, the Dacians (Romanians) added to the lists of slaves - another 50 thousand.
Over time, slavery fell into decay, became a brake on the development of society and was transformed into feudal relations.
Rise of the Slaves
Wars and revolts of slaves became a shock not only for the existing system, but also a threat to the social structure of the late Roman Republic. The largest of them:
- First Sicilian Uprising, 135 BC - 132 BC, the leadership of Eunus and Cleon in Sicily;
- Second Sicilian Uprising, 104 BC - 100 BC, led by Salvius Tryphon and Athenion;
- Rebellion of Spartacus (74 BC - 71 BC) Italy.
Spartacus (Spartacus or Σπάρτακος) is the most famous person among the leaders of the rebels who rebelled for social justice and the abolition of slavery. He was a physically strong and educated gladiator slave, a former warrior from Thrace. His improvised army managed to inflict a series of crushing blows on the Roman legions of the consular army. A lot of literary works have been written about the Spartak uprising, several film versions have been shot.
The sculpture of Spartak is in the Louvre (Paris), in Odessa (the modern version) on Italian Boulevard and in front of the Spartak Stadium of the same name in Tushino (North-Western District of Moscow).
