Slavery in Ancient Rome Sekoya Pelayo, Aminah Grant, & Shannon Thomas

About Rome… Rome lasted from 753 B.C.E to 600 C.E Had Latin speech and culture Agriculture and slavery w as essential to the economy had a Senate (held the true power) Christianity divided into 2 social classes (Patricians and Plebeians) Roman Republic Western part of Rome fell

Roman Cities The Roman cities were centers of marketing and trading. Because slaves were considered property, they were sold and traded there often. Taxes were even established on slaves. Landowners were able to have slaves, and usually hired overseers to watch and monitor their behavior and work ethic. Slavery Auction

Social structures Patricians Plebeians As in most societies, the Republic of Rome had it’s own social hierarchy. During the Roman Republic, Rome had two main social classes. The Patricians and the Plebeians. Wealthy families, said to be descended from the gods, called the Patricians, made up the higher class. They were aristocrats who held all the political power and prestige in Rome. The Plebeians were everyone else. The general population of Rome, like farmers, slaves...etc. During The Roman Empire period, social hierarchy became a lot more complex and rigid despite the diversity of it’s citizens. The Roman census divided the people into 6 classes based on the amount of property they owned. The highest classes included patricians, senators,and knights (equestrians). The common people/ middle class (mostly farmers) were the plebeians. The lowest classes consisted of poor citizens, non citizens, slaves and freedmen (people freed from slavery). Not even considered part of an actual class, slaves took up 25 to 40% of Rome’s population. An estimated 2 to 10 million people were slaves across the empire. They were usually prisoners from war born into slavery, people in debt, or people who voluntarily sold themselves into slavery to escape debt and poverty.

Social Structures All slaves had masters. Some were kind but a lot of masters were cruel. Slaves were the property of their masters, bound to serve them. They had no rights, freedom or authority. Many slaves worked as agricultural laborers, or household servants Many slaves were well educated and worked as school teachers, carpenters, messengers, goldsmiths and other varieties of jobs. In Roman society, owning slaves was a mark of high status. Most Romans only owned a couple while others owned hundreds and even thousands of slaves.

Food Production Agriculture was frequently done by male slaves. The slaves were usually involved with livestock, textile, oil, dairy and grains. Rome highly depend on the production of agriculture from the slaves. Some slaves were most likely paid with some of the very grain they grew. The establishment of slaves released some of the agricultural stress on free peasant farmers and lower class citizens. Widespread rebellion of the slaves could result in a drastic economic downfall.

Family In a patriarchy, men hold huge power. The patriarchy shaped slavery in several ways. If slaves married and had children, their children automatically were slaves. Many parents would often kill their children so they wouldn’t have to experience what they did. Parents sold their children to pay debts. The selling of slaves led to separation of families. Slaves tending to the hair of their mistress.

Citations http://www.academia.edu/1580228/Roman_Agriculture_and_Food_Production http://apworldhistory101.com/history-of-europe/ancient-rome/ Ancient Rome Powerpoint http://www.moyak.com/papers/roman-slavery-war.html http://www.hierarchystructure.com/ancient-rome-social-hierarchy/ O'Neal, Michael J. "social organization in ancient Rome." In Bogucki, Peter, ed.Encyclopedia of Society and Culture in the Ancient World. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE49&iPin=ESCAW679&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 9, 2014). Adkins, Lesley, and Roy A. Adkins. "slaves in ancient Rome." Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome, Updated Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE49&iPin=HROU1157&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 9, 2014). http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/roman_slaves.htm