BACKGROUND OF ROMAN EXPANSION
BACKGROUND OF ROMAN SLAVES
Slaves were clearly a key factor to how Rome developed as a country and it is interesting to see how it evolved through the years.
- Slavery increased as the Roman empire conquered more territory
- Changed Romean society and politics by creating new products to trade with which increased the wealth of the upperclasses (which then created huge gaps between the wealthy and the poor)
- There was a rise of business
- Expansion increased military and economic power
BACKGROUND OF ROMAN SLAVES
- Some slaves worked in the houses of their masters
- Slavery in Rome was not anything like how WE think of slavery; there is no comparison to slavery in the USA
- Being a slave was not as bad as being a free rural worker because being a rural worker meant fending for oneself with getting shelter, food everyday, and making money; they were on their own. Being a slave, however, they received housing, food, and allowance to eventually be able to buy their freedom.
- Rome depended on the work of the slaves for their economy
- Slaves were very important to a Roman's everyday life
- Without slaves rich people couldn’t live how they wanted to
- Slaves were captured in battle and sent back to be sold to owners
- Abandoned children became slaves
- If a father needed money, he could sell his children to be slaves for money
- Slaves were bought by wealthy people in a market
- Young Males and cooks were most important/expensive slaves to buy
- Children of slave parents automatically became slaves
- Some parents killed their own children so they didn’t have to be a slave
- Slave jobs included; walking kids to school, dressing their master, and washing clothes
- People thought it you treat your slaves with more respect, they will work better
- People also believed slaves shouldn’t have to watch their owners eat because it was unfair to them since they ate cheap food
- Slaves could buy their freedom but it was impossible bc it was so much money
- 25% of Rome were slaves
- An emperor would own more than 20,000 slaves
- A rich man would own around 500 slaves
Slaves were clearly a key factor to how Rome developed as a country and it is interesting to see how it evolved through the years.