Roman Slavery Essay Research Paper Roman SlaveryFor

Roman Slavery Essay, Research Paper

Roman Slavery

For those who don?t know what slavery is the ownership and forced them to force them to labor. Almost all if not al of the rich people had slaves. They would buy slaves and force them to work. Slaves hoped they would one day receive freedom. Slaves were bought and traded. Stronger slaves were more money then weaker slaves because they could work better.

For work slaves had to do just about everything that involved work or labor. Their rich owners had them farm, repairs things and basically do whatever they asked. Slaves were treated very unfairly. Sometimes qualified slaves were used as administrators since they had previous experience or the owner thought they could be trusted. Other slaves ended up becoming gladiators while some just work on roads and other jobs. A lot of slaves had to do heavy work also which wasn?t go for them. They often hurt them selves and messed up there back carrying big loads and got sick for poor conditions they had to live in.

Slaves could earn their freedom in a number of ways depending on their role as a slave. Some slaves could get freedom relatively easily compared to others. Some other slaves on the other hand were forced to do a lot of work on farms and do a lot of heavy work. They might of have been mistreated or beaten. . They could get beaten and it would not be considered abusive for the owner to do so. Other slaves such as gladiators or chariot racers had to win their freedom in a much harsher way. The gladiator had to confront vicious animals such as lions and other animals in an arena so that the Roman citizens could entertain themselves. Gladiators were in a difficult position to get out of as they had to fight the best they could and avoid to be killed and after a number of years without been killed they earned their of freedom. Chariot racers had a very dangerous job as they had to racehorses on chariots, which were frail and so disintegrated easily. They had to tie the reigns of the horses around their chest so that they were attached to the horses. In case of a crash they had to cut themselves loose fast or they would be dragged along the floor and so die. They therefore carried a knife on them in case they ever crashed and were about to be dragged. In both gladiator fights and chariot races the slaves could earn a lot of money from bets on them. Slaves also had the possibility to buy their freedom from their masters. Also slaves had to work the bathhouse, where all the roman citizens went. The slaves had to give massages and rub oil or poeples’ bodies. Also they gave out towels. Slaves basically ran the bathhouses. Also like in a move we watched during class, some slaves had to row all of there life under hot decks in boat chained up with no where to go. And if u felt like stopping and took a break you would get beaten and had no choice to stop or to take breaks. This was like torture rowing forever.

Inconclusion, slaves had a tough life and would be lucky to ever live long or to gain freedom. They often died young because of overworking. But rich people had it made. It was very horrible if u were a slave back then.