Post by Julia Gaia on Jan 2, 2008 14:15:22 GMT -5
Slavery in Egypt
Historians can trace slavery in Egypt from an early date. Private ownership of slaves, captured in war and given by the king to their captor or otherwise, certainly occurred at the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550 - 1295 BCE). Sales of slaves occurred in the Twenty-fifth Dynasty (732 - 656 BCE), and contracts of servitude survive from the Twenty-sixth Dynasty (ca 672 - 525 BCE) and from the reign of Darius: apparently such a contract then required the consent of the slave.
Slavery in Greece
Slavery played a major role in ancient Greek civilization. Slaves could be found everywhere. They worked not only as domestic servants, but as factory workers, shopkeepers, mineworkers, farm workers and as ship's crewmembers.
There may have been as many, if not more, slaves than free people in ancient Greece. It is difficult for historians to determine exactly how many slaves there were during these times, because many did not appear any different from the poorer Greek citizens.
There were many different ways in which a person could have become a slave in ancient Greece. They might have been born into slavery as the child of a slave.
They might have been taken prisoner if their city was attacked in one of the many battles which took place during these times. They might have been exposed as an infant, meaning the parents abandoned their newborn baby upon a hillside or at the gates of the city to die or be claimed by a passerby.
This method was not uncommon in ancient Greece. Another possible way in which one might have become a slave was if a family needed money, they might sell one of the children into slavery.
Usually it was a daughter because the male children were much needed to help out with the chores or the farm. Kidnapping was another fairly common way in which one could have been sold into slavery.
Slaves were treated differently in ancient Greece depending upon what their purpose was.
If one was a household servant, they had a fairly good situation, at least as good as slavery could be. They were often treated almost as part of the family.
They were even allowed to take part in the family rituals, like the sacrifice.
They were always supervised by the woman of the house who was responsible for making sure that all the slaves were kept busy and didn't get out of line.
This could be quite a task as most wealthy Greek households had as many as 10-20 slaves.
There were limits to what a slave could do. They could not enter the Gymnasium or the Public Assembly.
They could not use their own names, but were assigned names by their master.
It is important to remember that these people were thought of as property of their masters rather than citizens of Greece
Not all forms of slavery in ancient Greece were as tolerable as that of the domestic servant.
The life of a mineworker or ship's crewmember was a life of misery and danger.
These people usually did not live long because of the grueling work and dangerous conditions of their work.
Often those forced into these conditions were those condemned to death for committing crimes because it was understood that they wouldn't live very long under these circumstances.
It is surprising to note that the police force in ancient Athens was made up mainly of slaves.
Even the clerks at the treasury office were slaves.
Slavery was a very important part of ancient Greece. It played a major role in so many aspects of Greek civilization from domestic living to the infamous Athenian naval fleet.
The price one might have paid for a slave in ancient Greek times varied depending on their appearance, age and attitude.
Those who were healthy, attractive, young and submissive, could sell for as much as 10 minae ($180.00).
Those who were old, weak and stubborn might have sold for as little as 1/2 a mina ($9.00). If there happened to be a large supply of slaves on the market, the price automatically went down.
This usually happened after winning a large battle, when there were many prisoners of war.
Women Slaves
Traditionally, studies of Ancient Greece focus on the political, military and cultural achievements of Greek men. Unfortunately, the information we have about ancient Greek women is biased because it comes from various sources such as plays, philosophical tracts, vase paintings and sculptures which were completed by males. From these sources, we can conclude that Greek society was highly stratified in terms of class, race, and gender.
The segregation of male and female roles within ancient Greece was justified by philosophical claims of the natural superiority of males. As we shall learn, slave women were at a disadvantage in Greek society not only because of their gender but also because of their underprivileged status in the social hierarchy.
Slave labor was an essential element of the ancient world. While male slaves were assigned to agricultural and industrial work, female slaves were assigned a variety of domestic duties which included shopping, fetching water, cooking, serving food, cleaning, child-care, and wool-working. In wealthy households some of the female servants had more specialized roles to fulfil, such as housekeeper, cook or nurse.
Because female slaves were literally owned by their employers, how well slaves were treated depended upon their status in the household and the temperament of their owners. As a result of her vulnerable position within the household, a female slave was often subjected to sexual exploitation and physical abuse. Any children born of master-servant liaisons were disposed of because female slaves were prohibited from rearing children.
As Xenophon's Oceonomicus reveals, slaves were even prohibited from marrying, as marriage was deemed the social privilege of the elite citizens of Athens.
In addition to their official chores in the household, slave girls also performed unofficial services. For example, there is evidence that close relationships developed between female slaves and their mistresses. Given the relative seclusion of upper-class women in the private realm of their homes, many sought out confidantes in their slave girls.
For example, Euripedes' tragic character of Medea confided her deepest feelings with her nurse, who both advised and comforted her in her troubled times. Furthermore, slaves always accompanied their mistresses on excursions outside of the home.
Tombstones of upstanding Athenian women often depict scenes of familiarity between the deceased and her slave companion. It is likely that a sense of their common exclusion from the masculine world of public affairs would have drawn women together, regardless of class. The only public area in which women were allowed to participate was religion.
Slave women were included in some religious affairs and could be initiated to the Eleusinian Mysteries which celebrated the myth of Persephone.
Thus, the fate of a Greek slave girl was determined by circumstance and more or less rested in the hands of her owners, who had the power to shape her existence.
Slavery in Rome
What were the tasks of slaves?
In the Roman system of slavery, the tasks of slaves, such as farming, businesses, and public buildings all contributed to the wealth of the Roman economy.
Slaves on Farms
On the farms, slaves produced the food and other materials on which the cities depended. Some of the most important crops produced by slaves were wheat, olives, vines and grapes which were eaten and used for making wine. According to Casson, wines were drunk before, after, between, it became their coffee, tea, and spirits. The olive oil on the other hand, was their butter, soap, and electricity. They cooked with it, put it on at the baths, and burned it in their lamps, and the grains were ground into flour (28). The slaves also worked as carpenters and blacksmiths who repaired the farm tools and carts. Others looked after the cattle, sheep and pigs. The wool from the sheep were spun and made into items which were used by the Roman army and navy. The Roman farm products such as wine, oil, tools, meat were exported to other counties. This gave Rome its greatest source of economic wealth.
Slaves on Business
Not only were the slaves working on the farms and households, they were also involved in business, such as shops and public buildings. In business, the slaves managed the shops for absentee owners. For example, in the barber shops where customers had their hair cut and their nails manicured, the slaves performed all services and aided managers. Some slaves managed shops on a full-time basis. They were in charge of duties like shopkeeping, lending of money, buying and selling of merchandise. While the slaves were managing the shops, the masters concentrated on establishing new businesses which resulted in their being very successful and consequently wealthy. As one slave master described his success "My five shops bring in four hundred thousand sestertii see?I have more stashed away in the bank, than any imperial favorite" ( Nardo 52). Slaves were not only performing the tasks but taking control of everything for their masters and making them wealthy which also helped the economy.
Slaves on public buildings
Besides working on the farms and businesses, the most famous task performed by slaves in the public buildings was working on the aqueduct systems, roads, and the arenas. Buildings were built for public use; others were built by wealthy individuals for the community. However, slaves were used to do the actual construction. The aqueducts supplied many Romans with water outlets, including public fountains in the streets from which most people fetched their water. Besides the aqueducts, the slaves also built bridges and roads which were very important because they were built mainly to allow soldiers to move quickly in war time. However, it also encouraged trading and helped the spread of Roman culture. "Therefore slave labor became one of Rome’s greatest sources of economic wealth ( Ancient Rome Online).
How good were slaves actually treated?
The good treatment of slaves in Rome was one of the positive and beneficial aspects of the slave system. For example, some slaves were given many privileges, comforts and were treated better than most people would have imagined. Nardo states "some masters treated their slaves with care and affection as their own children"(25).
"As historian L.P.Wilkinson also stated, 'normal masters could hardly fail, even if half-ashamedly, to have a soft spot for characters they had seen toddling and growing up about the place, these slaves in return ate and dressed better than poor free Romans. They were even safer and secure'" ( qtd.in Nardo.25). Some slave masters showed their loyalty and how much they cared for their slaves by giving nearly complete charge of their money and business affairs to the slaves without interfering. This led to the development of saturnalia festival.
How Saturnalia was celebrated?
Saturnalia was a traditional celebration like Christmas in which slaves and masters switched places. In this celebration, the master became the slave and performed all the tasks of the slave, and the slaves did the opposite. Slaves and masters showed loyalty to each other in many ways. Therefore...
"Masters participated in the Saturnalia’s festivals to show their appreciation for the slaves’ service which led them to realize that by treating slaves with respect and care it was in their best interest, as well as those of the slaves (Nardo 26)".
In simpler terms, both slaves and masters were supposed to be thankful for each other and enjoyed peaceful time together.
How was slavery bad for Rome?
Even though slavery was advantageous to Rome, it was also disastrous in many ways. The manipulation, the degrading, and the dependency of slaves played some role in the fall of Roman civilization. The cruel and inhumane treatments which some Romans gave their slaves partly led to its downfall. For example, the condition in which slaves were kept after being captured was very humiliating. When slaves were first captured, they were brought to auction blocks stripped naked as the buyers examined and placed cards on the slaves that listed all the qualifications of the slave. Other ways in which masters degraded their slaves was by selling them into prostitution, especially, the females.
How bad were Slaves actually treated?
According to ( Pomeroy 192), some masters owned businesses in which they bought young females into prostitution to increase their wealth. Some masters physically abused their slaves. In a play by Plautus, a character called Bollio is depicted roaring and whipping his slaves. Some slaves became combat fighters known as gladiators and chariot racers. The gladiators had to fight strong and vicious animals such as lions, tigers and other animals in an arena so that the Roman citizens could entertain themselves. In most cases, the gladiator was killed by the animals. One of the most famous gladiators was Spartacus, who led a slave revolt in which he destroyed seven Roman armies and later was killed along with many of his men. Due to the cruel and inhumane treatment by some masters, slaves usually resented their masters which resulted in chaos.
How did slavery weakened government?
Many factors such as military, social, economic, political and Roman dependency on slavery combined, resulted in the fall of the Roman civilization. It was estimated that an average wealthy Roman such as Nero owned 400 slaves in his town house alone, and according to one writer, some wealthy people owned from 10,000-20,000 slaves (Tingay and Badthingy 128). Grant stated that the Romans were so dependent on the slave labor that even the simplest task such as getting dressed, holding a towel while going to the bath, and cooking were all done by slaves. Because wealthy owners had slaves working on everything, the lower class could not compete with the freed laborers and were forced out of jobs. So they became dependent on the government to take care of them. The wealthy were forced to pay high taxes on slaves and were expected to help the community at the same time, so they started freeing their slaves.
Meanwhile, the "cost of repairing and maintaining public baths, temples became heavy expenditures on the government" ( Ancient Rome Online ). The government spent the majority of its money on the lower class. The lower class was given free grain like bread oil wine and free entertainment. The government also spent money on the maintenance of the city. Because the government spent its funds on the lower class, there was not enough money to support military. As a result, no one enlisted in the army wanted to fight which weakened and finally led to the breakdown of the Republic. Rome’s dependency on slave labor contributed to the decline of the greatest civilization in the history of mankind.
Historians can trace slavery in Egypt from an early date. Private ownership of slaves, captured in war and given by the king to their captor or otherwise, certainly occurred at the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550 - 1295 BCE). Sales of slaves occurred in the Twenty-fifth Dynasty (732 - 656 BCE), and contracts of servitude survive from the Twenty-sixth Dynasty (ca 672 - 525 BCE) and from the reign of Darius: apparently such a contract then required the consent of the slave.
Slavery in Greece
Slavery played a major role in ancient Greek civilization. Slaves could be found everywhere. They worked not only as domestic servants, but as factory workers, shopkeepers, mineworkers, farm workers and as ship's crewmembers.
There may have been as many, if not more, slaves than free people in ancient Greece. It is difficult for historians to determine exactly how many slaves there were during these times, because many did not appear any different from the poorer Greek citizens.
There were many different ways in which a person could have become a slave in ancient Greece. They might have been born into slavery as the child of a slave.
They might have been taken prisoner if their city was attacked in one of the many battles which took place during these times. They might have been exposed as an infant, meaning the parents abandoned their newborn baby upon a hillside or at the gates of the city to die or be claimed by a passerby.
This method was not uncommon in ancient Greece. Another possible way in which one might have become a slave was if a family needed money, they might sell one of the children into slavery.
Usually it was a daughter because the male children were much needed to help out with the chores or the farm. Kidnapping was another fairly common way in which one could have been sold into slavery.
Slaves were treated differently in ancient Greece depending upon what their purpose was.
If one was a household servant, they had a fairly good situation, at least as good as slavery could be. They were often treated almost as part of the family.
They were even allowed to take part in the family rituals, like the sacrifice.
They were always supervised by the woman of the house who was responsible for making sure that all the slaves were kept busy and didn't get out of line.
This could be quite a task as most wealthy Greek households had as many as 10-20 slaves.
There were limits to what a slave could do. They could not enter the Gymnasium or the Public Assembly.
They could not use their own names, but were assigned names by their master.
It is important to remember that these people were thought of as property of their masters rather than citizens of Greece
Not all forms of slavery in ancient Greece were as tolerable as that of the domestic servant.
The life of a mineworker or ship's crewmember was a life of misery and danger.
These people usually did not live long because of the grueling work and dangerous conditions of their work.
Often those forced into these conditions were those condemned to death for committing crimes because it was understood that they wouldn't live very long under these circumstances.
It is surprising to note that the police force in ancient Athens was made up mainly of slaves.
Even the clerks at the treasury office were slaves.
Slavery was a very important part of ancient Greece. It played a major role in so many aspects of Greek civilization from domestic living to the infamous Athenian naval fleet.
The price one might have paid for a slave in ancient Greek times varied depending on their appearance, age and attitude.
Those who were healthy, attractive, young and submissive, could sell for as much as 10 minae ($180.00).
Those who were old, weak and stubborn might have sold for as little as 1/2 a mina ($9.00). If there happened to be a large supply of slaves on the market, the price automatically went down.
This usually happened after winning a large battle, when there were many prisoners of war.
Women Slaves
Traditionally, studies of Ancient Greece focus on the political, military and cultural achievements of Greek men. Unfortunately, the information we have about ancient Greek women is biased because it comes from various sources such as plays, philosophical tracts, vase paintings and sculptures which were completed by males. From these sources, we can conclude that Greek society was highly stratified in terms of class, race, and gender.
The segregation of male and female roles within ancient Greece was justified by philosophical claims of the natural superiority of males. As we shall learn, slave women were at a disadvantage in Greek society not only because of their gender but also because of their underprivileged status in the social hierarchy.
Slave labor was an essential element of the ancient world. While male slaves were assigned to agricultural and industrial work, female slaves were assigned a variety of domestic duties which included shopping, fetching water, cooking, serving food, cleaning, child-care, and wool-working. In wealthy households some of the female servants had more specialized roles to fulfil, such as housekeeper, cook or nurse.
Because female slaves were literally owned by their employers, how well slaves were treated depended upon their status in the household and the temperament of their owners. As a result of her vulnerable position within the household, a female slave was often subjected to sexual exploitation and physical abuse. Any children born of master-servant liaisons were disposed of because female slaves were prohibited from rearing children.
As Xenophon's Oceonomicus reveals, slaves were even prohibited from marrying, as marriage was deemed the social privilege of the elite citizens of Athens.
In addition to their official chores in the household, slave girls also performed unofficial services. For example, there is evidence that close relationships developed between female slaves and their mistresses. Given the relative seclusion of upper-class women in the private realm of their homes, many sought out confidantes in their slave girls.
For example, Euripedes' tragic character of Medea confided her deepest feelings with her nurse, who both advised and comforted her in her troubled times. Furthermore, slaves always accompanied their mistresses on excursions outside of the home.
Tombstones of upstanding Athenian women often depict scenes of familiarity between the deceased and her slave companion. It is likely that a sense of their common exclusion from the masculine world of public affairs would have drawn women together, regardless of class. The only public area in which women were allowed to participate was religion.
Slave women were included in some religious affairs and could be initiated to the Eleusinian Mysteries which celebrated the myth of Persephone.
Thus, the fate of a Greek slave girl was determined by circumstance and more or less rested in the hands of her owners, who had the power to shape her existence.
Slavery in Rome
What were the tasks of slaves?
In the Roman system of slavery, the tasks of slaves, such as farming, businesses, and public buildings all contributed to the wealth of the Roman economy.
Slaves on Farms
On the farms, slaves produced the food and other materials on which the cities depended. Some of the most important crops produced by slaves were wheat, olives, vines and grapes which were eaten and used for making wine. According to Casson, wines were drunk before, after, between, it became their coffee, tea, and spirits. The olive oil on the other hand, was their butter, soap, and electricity. They cooked with it, put it on at the baths, and burned it in their lamps, and the grains were ground into flour (28). The slaves also worked as carpenters and blacksmiths who repaired the farm tools and carts. Others looked after the cattle, sheep and pigs. The wool from the sheep were spun and made into items which were used by the Roman army and navy. The Roman farm products such as wine, oil, tools, meat were exported to other counties. This gave Rome its greatest source of economic wealth.
Slaves on Business
Not only were the slaves working on the farms and households, they were also involved in business, such as shops and public buildings. In business, the slaves managed the shops for absentee owners. For example, in the barber shops where customers had their hair cut and their nails manicured, the slaves performed all services and aided managers. Some slaves managed shops on a full-time basis. They were in charge of duties like shopkeeping, lending of money, buying and selling of merchandise. While the slaves were managing the shops, the masters concentrated on establishing new businesses which resulted in their being very successful and consequently wealthy. As one slave master described his success "My five shops bring in four hundred thousand sestertii see?I have more stashed away in the bank, than any imperial favorite" ( Nardo 52). Slaves were not only performing the tasks but taking control of everything for their masters and making them wealthy which also helped the economy.
Slaves on public buildings
Besides working on the farms and businesses, the most famous task performed by slaves in the public buildings was working on the aqueduct systems, roads, and the arenas. Buildings were built for public use; others were built by wealthy individuals for the community. However, slaves were used to do the actual construction. The aqueducts supplied many Romans with water outlets, including public fountains in the streets from which most people fetched their water. Besides the aqueducts, the slaves also built bridges and roads which were very important because they were built mainly to allow soldiers to move quickly in war time. However, it also encouraged trading and helped the spread of Roman culture. "Therefore slave labor became one of Rome’s greatest sources of economic wealth ( Ancient Rome Online).
How good were slaves actually treated?
The good treatment of slaves in Rome was one of the positive and beneficial aspects of the slave system. For example, some slaves were given many privileges, comforts and were treated better than most people would have imagined. Nardo states "some masters treated their slaves with care and affection as their own children"(25).
"As historian L.P.Wilkinson also stated, 'normal masters could hardly fail, even if half-ashamedly, to have a soft spot for characters they had seen toddling and growing up about the place, these slaves in return ate and dressed better than poor free Romans. They were even safer and secure'" ( qtd.in Nardo.25). Some slave masters showed their loyalty and how much they cared for their slaves by giving nearly complete charge of their money and business affairs to the slaves without interfering. This led to the development of saturnalia festival.
How Saturnalia was celebrated?
Saturnalia was a traditional celebration like Christmas in which slaves and masters switched places. In this celebration, the master became the slave and performed all the tasks of the slave, and the slaves did the opposite. Slaves and masters showed loyalty to each other in many ways. Therefore...
"Masters participated in the Saturnalia’s festivals to show their appreciation for the slaves’ service which led them to realize that by treating slaves with respect and care it was in their best interest, as well as those of the slaves (Nardo 26)".
In simpler terms, both slaves and masters were supposed to be thankful for each other and enjoyed peaceful time together.
How was slavery bad for Rome?
Even though slavery was advantageous to Rome, it was also disastrous in many ways. The manipulation, the degrading, and the dependency of slaves played some role in the fall of Roman civilization. The cruel and inhumane treatments which some Romans gave their slaves partly led to its downfall. For example, the condition in which slaves were kept after being captured was very humiliating. When slaves were first captured, they were brought to auction blocks stripped naked as the buyers examined and placed cards on the slaves that listed all the qualifications of the slave. Other ways in which masters degraded their slaves was by selling them into prostitution, especially, the females.
How bad were Slaves actually treated?
According to ( Pomeroy 192), some masters owned businesses in which they bought young females into prostitution to increase their wealth. Some masters physically abused their slaves. In a play by Plautus, a character called Bollio is depicted roaring and whipping his slaves. Some slaves became combat fighters known as gladiators and chariot racers. The gladiators had to fight strong and vicious animals such as lions, tigers and other animals in an arena so that the Roman citizens could entertain themselves. In most cases, the gladiator was killed by the animals. One of the most famous gladiators was Spartacus, who led a slave revolt in which he destroyed seven Roman armies and later was killed along with many of his men. Due to the cruel and inhumane treatment by some masters, slaves usually resented their masters which resulted in chaos.
How did slavery weakened government?
Many factors such as military, social, economic, political and Roman dependency on slavery combined, resulted in the fall of the Roman civilization. It was estimated that an average wealthy Roman such as Nero owned 400 slaves in his town house alone, and according to one writer, some wealthy people owned from 10,000-20,000 slaves (Tingay and Badthingy 128). Grant stated that the Romans were so dependent on the slave labor that even the simplest task such as getting dressed, holding a towel while going to the bath, and cooking were all done by slaves. Because wealthy owners had slaves working on everything, the lower class could not compete with the freed laborers and were forced out of jobs. So they became dependent on the government to take care of them. The wealthy were forced to pay high taxes on slaves and were expected to help the community at the same time, so they started freeing their slaves.
Meanwhile, the "cost of repairing and maintaining public baths, temples became heavy expenditures on the government" ( Ancient Rome Online ). The government spent the majority of its money on the lower class. The lower class was given free grain like bread oil wine and free entertainment. The government also spent money on the maintenance of the city. Because the government spent its funds on the lower class, there was not enough money to support military. As a result, no one enlisted in the army wanted to fight which weakened and finally led to the breakdown of the Republic. Rome’s dependency on slave labor contributed to the decline of the greatest civilization in the history of mankind.
