

Sculpture of slave boy Slavery in ancient Rome differed from its modern forms in that it was not based on race.



But like modern slavery, it was an abusive and degrading institution. Cruelty was commonplace.



A common practice



Slavery had a long history in the ancient world and was practiced in Ancient Egypt and Greece, as well as Rome. Most slaves during the Roman Empire were foreigners and, unlike in modern times, Roman slavery was not based on race.



Slaves in Rome might include prisoners of war, sailors captured and sold by pirates, or slaves bought outside Roman territory. In hard times, it was not uncommon for desperate Roman citizens to raise money by selling their children into slavery.



Life as a slave



All slaves and their families were the property of their owners, who could sell or rent them out at any time. Their lives were harsh. Slaves were often whipped, branded or cruelly mistreated. Their owners could also kill them for any reason, and would face no punishment.



Although Romans accepted slavery as the norm, some people  like the poet and philosopher, Seneca  argued that slaves should at least be treated fairly.



Essential labor



Slaves worked everywhere  in private households, in mines and factories, and on farms. They also worked for city governments on engineering projects such as roads, aqueducts and buildings. As a result, they merged easily into the population.



In fact, slaves looked so similar to Roman citizens that the Senate once considered a plan to make them wear special clothing so that they could be identified at a glance. The idea was rejected because the Senate feared that, if slaves saw how many of them were working in Rome, they might be tempted to join forces and rebel.



Manumission



Another difference between Roman slavery and its more modern variety was manumission  the ability of slaves to be freed. Roman owners freed their slaves in considerable numbers: some freed them outright, while others allowed them to buy their own freedom. The prospect of possible freedom through manumission encouraged most slaves to be obedient and hard working.



Formal manumission was performed by a magistrate and gave freed men full Roman citizenship. The one exception was that they were not allowed to hold office. However, the law gave any children born to freedmen, after formal manumission, full rights of citizenship, including the right to hold office.



Informal manumission gave fewer rights. Slaves freed informally did not become citizens and any property or wealth they accumulated reverted to their former owners when they died.



Free at last?



Once freed, former slaves could work in the same jobs as plebeians  as craftsmen, midwives or traders. Some even became wealthy. However, Romes rigid society attached importance to social status and even successful freedmen usually found the stigma of slavery hard to overcome  the degradation lasted well beyond the slavery itself.





Where to next:

Writers - Petronius

Life in Roman Times  Family Life





