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The possibility of manumission and subsequent citizenship was a distinguishing feature of Rome's system of slavery, resulting in a significant and influential number of freedpersons in Roman society. At all levels of employment, free working people, former slaves, and the enslaved mostly did the same kinds of jobs.
Slavery was a pervasive and intrinsic part of ancient Rome's social and economic structure, with an estimated one-third of the empire's population being enslaved at its peak. From household servants to laborers, gladiators to skilled artisans, slaves played an essential role in the daily life of the ancient Romans.
Learn about the origins, roles and lives of enslaved people in Roman society through objects and stories. See a slavery tag, a funerary relief and a statuette of a Gaulish prisoner.
- Slavery as An Accepted Reality
- The Status of Slaves
- The Roles of Slaves
- Winning Freedom
- Slave Rebellions
- Conclusion
Slavery, that is complete mastery (dominium) of one individual over another, was so imbedded in Roman culture that slaves became almost invisible and there was certainly no feeling of injustice in this situation on the part of the rulers. Inequality in power, freedom and the control of resources was an accepted part of life and went right back to t...
The number and proportion of slaves in society varied over time and place, for example, in Augustan Italy the figure was as high as 30% whilst in Roman Egypt slaves made up only 10% of the total population. Although slave ownership was wider than in the Greekworld, it remained a prerogative of the reasonably well-off. A more modest Roman business o...
Slave labour was used in all areas of Roman life except public office. In addition, slaves were often mixed with free labour as employers used whatever human resources were available and necessary to get a job done. If one could not find enough slaves or skills were needed which only paid labour could provide, then labourers and slaves would work t...
There was, at least for a small minority, the possibility of a slave achieving freedom to become a freedman or woman, and this incentive was fully exploited by slave owners. That manumission occurred is attested by the many ancient references, both in literature and art, to the presence of freed slaves. Freedom could be granted by the owner but in ...
There is some evidence that slaves were better treated in the Imperial period as fewer wars resulted in slaves being in less ready supply and, therefore, they increased in value and it was recognised that harsh treatment was counter-productive so that there were even laws which provided against excessively cruel owners. However, in practical terms,...
The entire Roman state and cultural apparatus was, then, built on the exploitation of one part of the population to provide for the other part. Regarded as no more than a commodity, any good treatment a slave received was largely only to preserve their value as a worker and as an asset in the case of future sale. No doubt, some slave owners were mo...
- Mark Cartwright
Jul 10, 2023 · Learn about the origins, functions, and roles of Roman slaves in the Roman society and economy. Explore the sources, statistics, and examples of slavery in the Roman Empire and its history.
- Daniel Kershaw
The Roman Empire developed one of the largest and most economically and culturally integrated systems of slavery in world history. It thrived on a remarkably robust supply stream that included enslavement by birth, capture, sale from foreign and domestic sources, the...
Aug 18, 2022 · Learn about the diverse roles and functions of slaves in Roman society, from war captives to household servants. Discover how slaves were treated, educated, and sometimes freed, and how they participated in Roman culture and religion.
