The Horrible Life of an Average Roman Empire Slave

Summary

This video script explores the diverse lives of slaves in ancient Rome, challenging the stereotype of them all being laborers. It delves into the roles of domestic servants, skilled artisans, and educated physicians among slaves. The narrative focuses on Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator who led a slave revolt, and contrasts his life with those subjected to hard labor, such as mining and construction. The script also touches on the treatment of slaves, their potential for freedom, and their status as property, reflecting the complex social hierarchy of Roman society.

Takeaways

• 🏛 Ancient Roman slaves had diverse roles, from laborers to domestic servants and even educated physicians.
• 🛡 Spartacus, a Thracian by birth, was a former soldier and gladiator who led a major slave revolt known as the Servile Wars.
• 🏰 Gladiatorial schools trained slaves for combat, providing them with better living conditions to ensure their value for fights.
• 🔨 Slaves engaged in hard labor, such as building cities, mining, and farming, often under brutal and life-threatening conditions.
• 👥 Wealthy Romans could own up to 400 slaves, who performed a wide range of tasks from domestic work to skilled crafts.
• 👗 Female slaves might work as domestic helpers, dressmakers, or hairdressers, while some produced handcrafts and jewelry.
• 👦 Young male slaves were considered valuable due to their potential for work, unlike older men who were less sought after.
• 📚 Educated slaves could achieve a higher status, sometimes serving as teachers for Roman children.
• 🏆 Some slaves had the chance to earn their freedom, which was the most desirable outcome for them.
• 🌍 Slavery was an accepted part of Roman society, with slaves often being the result of war, piracy, or theft.

Q & A

What were the various roles that slaves played in ancient Rome?

Slaves in ancient Rome had diverse roles, including domestic servants, skilled artisans, educated physicians, and laborers. Some were gladiators, while others worked in mines, fields, or as personal attendants.

Who was Spartacus and what was his significance in Roman history?

Spartacus was a Thracian who served as a soldier with the Romans, became a prisoner, and was sold as a gladiator. He led a major slave revolt known as the Servile Wars, which is significant as an example of resistance against Roman slavery.

What was the living condition of gladiators in ancient Rome?

Gladiators were highly valued slaves and lived in relatively better conditions compared to other slaves. They had heated cells, access to baths, and infirmaries. Their cells were equipped with plumbing, and they were well-maintained to ensure their performance in the arena.

How were slaves treated in the Roman mines?

Slaves working in the Roman mines had a very hard life and were often worked to death. The conditions were harsh, and it was considered one of the worst kinds of work for slaves.

What was the status of women slaves in ancient Rome?

Women slaves in ancient Rome might work as domestic servants, dressmakers, or hairdressers. Some were also sent to work in small factories making handcrafts and jewelry.

How did the treatment of slaves depend on their owners?

The treatment of slaves depended on the owner's temperament and the slave's role. Favored slaves could be educated and appointed as teachers for Roman youth, while others could face harsh treatment including beatings, flogging, branding, maiming, and even death.

What was the average number of slaves in a household in Pompeii?

The average household in Pompeii had around seven slaves, indicating that slavery was a common practice and an integral part of Roman society.

How were slaves dressed in ancient Rome, and was it possible to identify them by their clothing?

Slaves in ancient Rome often wore tunics similar to other citizens, making it difficult to identify them by clothing alone. Slave owners did not typically wear togas due to their cumbersome nature and difficulty in cleaning.

What was the role of slaves in the laundry process, and how was it related to the use of urine?

Slaves were responsible for washing clothes, which often involved using urine due to its ammonia content as a cleaning agent. This was part of their daily chores, and it was not a pleasant task.

How did the Roman empire view the concept of slavery, and was it seen as unjust?

In the Roman empire, slavery was viewed as a normal part of life, and there was no widespread feeling of injustice. Slaves were often the losers of battles or stolen individuals, and their status was not questioned by Roman society.

What was the possibility of a slave gaining freedom in ancient Rome?

Some slaves could earn their freedom, which was considered the best outcome for them. This was sometimes used as an incentive by Roman owners to encourage hard work and obedience.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Life of Slaves in Ancient Rome

This paragraph delves into the diverse lives of slaves in ancient Rome, challenging the stereotype of slaves as mere laborers. It highlights that slaves held various roles, including domestic servants, skilled artisans, and educated physicians. A significant focus is on Spartacus, a Thracian by birth, who became a gladiator and military leader, leading a slave revolt known as the Servile Wars. The paragraph also discusses the conditions of gladiatorial schools, where slaves were trained in combat and lived in relatively better conditions compared to those performing hard labor. It contrasts the lives of gladiators with those who faced brutal labor, such as building cities and mining, and touches on the possibility of slaves gaining respect and even freedom, depending on their owner's treatment.

05:03

👕 Slaves' Roles and Treatment in Roman Society

The second paragraph explores the various roles slaves played in Roman society, including laundry work, which involved washing clothes in baths of urine due to the absence of modern detergents. It discusses the legal and societal views on slaves as property, with instances where damages to slaves required compensation. The paragraph emphasizes the prevalence of slavery in the Roman Empire, with one out of five people being slaves at some point. It also touches on the philosophical acceptance of slavery by Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle. The narrative includes the origins of slaves, who were often the results of war, piracy, or theft, and the prohibition of slave families. The status symbol of owning slaves and the potential for special slaves to teach valuable skills like philosophy are also highlighted. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the harsh reality of most slaves' lives, despite some opportunities for freedom, and encourages viewers to consider the best possible position for a slave in such a society.

Keywords

💡Slaves

Slaves in ancient Rome were individuals owned by Roman citizens and were forced to perform various tasks. They were not all laborers but included domestic servants, skilled artisans, and educated physicians. The video script discusses the diverse lives of slaves, from the brutal life of those working in mines or fields to the relatively better conditions of gladiators and educated slaves. The keyword 'slaves' is central to the video's theme, illustrating the broad spectrum of experiences within this group.

💡Spartacus

Spartacus was a Thracian gladiator who led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic known as the Servile Wars. His story is used in the script to exemplify the harsh conditions that could lead slaves to revolt. Spartacus is a symbol of resistance within the video's narrative, showing that not all slaves passively accepted their fate.

💡Gladiators

Gladiators were slaves trained to fight in the Roman Coliseum for public entertainment. The script describes their living conditions, which included heated cells and access to baths, and their rigorous training. Gladiators were highly valued slaves, and their treatment was better than those performing hard labor, reflecting the video's theme of the varied experiences of slaves.

💡Domestic Servants

Domestic servants were slaves who worked within Roman households, performing tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare. The script mentions them as an example of slaves who had a different lifestyle compared to those in hard labor, emphasizing the diversity of roles slaves could fill in Roman society.

💡Skilled Artisans

Skilled artisans were slaves with specialized skills, such as craftsmanship or medical knowledge. The script points out that some slaves were highly educated physicians, indicating that slavery encompassed a wide range of capabilities and that some slaves were valued for their expertise.

💡Punishment

Punishment in the form of enslavement was a common practice in ancient Rome. The script describes how individuals sentenced to slavery as punishment had brutal and often short lives, highlighting the harsh realities faced by certain slaves and the video's exploration of the different reasons people became slaves.

💡Slave Revolts

Slave revolts were uprisings by slaves against their Roman masters. The script mentions the revolt led by Spartacus as a notable example, illustrating the discontent and desire for freedom among slaves, which is a central theme in the video's discussion of slave life.

💡Slave Markets

Slave markets were places where slaves were bought and sold. The script describes how slaves captured by Roman soldiers were taken to these markets, emphasizing the commodification of human beings and the video's theme of the slave trade as a business.

💡Hard Labor

Hard labor refers to the physically demanding and often dangerous work performed by slaves, such as building cities, mining, and farming. The script mentions that these slaves were 'worked to death,' illustrating the extreme exploitation and the video's focus on the grim realities of slavery.

💡Freedom

Freedom for a Roman slave meant being released from servitude. The script discusses how some slaves could earn their freedom, which was considered the best outcome for a slave. This keyword is integral to the video's message about the potential for change in the lives of slaves.

💡Status Symbol

A status symbol in the context of the video refers to the practice of owning slaves as a display of wealth and power. The script notes that the number of slaves a Roman had was part of their status, showing how slavery was intertwined with social hierarchy and the video's exploration of the societal norms of the time.

Highlights

Ancient Roman slaves had diverse roles beyond being laborers, including domestic servants and skilled artisans.

Some slaves were highly educated physicians, indicating a range of expertise among the enslaved population.

Slaves who were punished and became property faced brutal and often short lives.

Slave revolts occurred, notably led by Spartacus, a former gladiator turned military leader.

Spartacus was a Thracian by birth, captured by Romans, and trained as a gladiator.

Gladiator schools were akin to prisons, where prisoners trained in various combat skills.

Gladiators had heated cells, baths, and infirmaries, reflecting their high value to their owners.

Slaves in gladiatorial schools lived in relatively better conditions compared to those in hard labor.

Hard labor slaves were worked to death, building cities, mining, and farming for the Roman Empire.

Slaves could be bought and sold at markets, with wealthy Romans owning up to 400 slaves.

Female slaves often worked as domestic helpers, dressmakers, or hairdressers.

Young male slaves were considered valuable due to their potential for labor.

Slaves had no rights and could be beaten or killed for disobedience.

Educated slaves could become teachers for Roman children, gaining respect and potentially freedom.

Slave treatment varied greatly depending on the owner, with some being more generous than others.

Slaves in Pompeii were often allowed to roam freely, indicating a degree of leniency in their confinement.

Slaves were not always distinguishable by clothing, often wearing similar tunics as free citizens.

Slaves performed unpleasant tasks such as washing clothes in urine due to its ammonia content.

Slaves were considered property, and if damaged, the responsible party had to compensate the owner.

Slavery was a normalized part of Roman society, with slaves often the spoils of war or victims of piracy.

Slaves had no family life of their own, and their existence was solely for work.

The number of slaves a Roman had was a status symbol, with special slaves adding to this status.

Some slaves could achieve freedom, which was used by some owners as an incentive for good behavior.

Despite the harsh realities, some slave owners treated their slaves well for practical reasons.

Transcripts

Slaves in ancient Rome weren’t all laborers working hard under the hot sun as some wicked

slave driver stood behind them with a whip in his hand.

Many of the slaves were domestic servants, some were skilled artisans, others were even

said to be highly educated physicians.

The ones who did generally have a very hard life were those that were doing their time

as property of a Roman as a punishment.

Life for these people was brutal and often very short.

For that reason there were sometimes slave revolts, with the one you all probably know

about being led by the slave Spartacus.

This former gladiator and military leader took part in what are now called The Servile

Wars.

But what about the average joe slaves?

So, as Roman slaves lived such diverse lives, let’s start with the great Spartacus.

The Greek writer Plutarch tells us that Spartacus was “a Thracian by birth, who had once served

as a soldier with the Romans, but had since been a prisoner and sold for a gladiator.”

If he was indeed Thracian, that would mean he came from what we now called Bulgaria,

or possibly Greece or Turkey.

While sources differ, it’s said that Spartacus was first captured by Roman legions and then

trained in gladiatorial school.

If you’ve seen our show on what sometimes went down in the Roman Coliseum, you’ll

know that gladiators didn’t exactly have an easy life.

What do we know about the schools?

Well, these prisoners of war were kept often two to a cell.

They were in fact in prison, but each day they would train outside of their cells in

an arena.

Gladiators had different kinds of skills and training methods, and Thracian gladiators

practiced in the art of swordsmanship.

National Geographic tells us that the slaves were not allowed out of the fortress unless

being taken to the coliseum or another arena.

But while the cells were not exactly a great place to live, it’s said there were heated

floors for winter, baths, an infirmary, and the slaves lived in confines that were equipped

with plumbing.

Historians say these gladiators were highly valued slaves, and so they were kept in good

condition so they could fight well.

These slaves, we are told, would not usually die or even be treated too badly in their

prison.

They occupied a 32-square-foot (3-square-meter) cell, which as we said, was probably shared

with one more person.

They trained day in day out all year round, and trained not as a team but as individuals.

When the time came, they were often taken out of the training school and sent to fight

in an arena somewhere.

So, the life of a gladiator slave?

Probably a much better existence than hard labor, but obviously they could find themselves

in a very bad place being pitted against a starving lion.

That’s likely one of the reasons why Spartacus decided to plot against the Romans and head

for the hills.

It’s believed he was captured and killed, with many of his followers also dying by way

of crucifixion.

But perhaps a fate worse than being trained to fight in an arena was hard labor, after

all, someone had to build those great cities in the ancient empire, mine the precious metals

and plough the fields.

We are told quite often these people would literally be worked to death.

When these people were captured, often by Roman soldiers, they were often taken to the

market where they were sold.

Anyone could buy himself or herself a slave, and it’s said some more wealthy people might

own as many as 400 slaves.

Perhaps the worst kind of work was in the Roman mines, although historians also say

that slave farmers had a very hard job.

Women slaves with less muscle might work in the house as servants, but they might also

be given the job of dressmaking or even hairdresser.

Many other women were sent to work in small factories where they would make handcrafts

and jewelry.

The young boys it’s said were expensive, as it’s not likely many Romans wanted old

men in their employ.

We say employ, but they weren’t paid anything.

They had to do exactly as they were told and any kind of back chat could lead to a serious

beating.

If a slave killed his own master, that would usually end in all the slaves of the household

being killed.

One might have a nice master, but the opposite was of course possible.

As we said before, some slaves gained a certain amount of respect as they were educated.

These slaves would often be appointed the work of teacher for the young Romans.

As one writer tells us, “How a slave was treated depended on the owner.”

If a slave was favored by his owner there was always a chance that this slave could

earn his freedom, perhaps the best thing that could happen to a Roman slave.

On the other hand, get an awful owner and there was every chance you could be beaten,

flogged, branded, maimed and killed.

One historian writes about the slaves of Pompeii, stating that the average household in this

city would have around seven slaves.

He wrote that the work of slaves could be tough, but they were often free to roam about

the streets, grab a bit of rest down at the fountain, or just disappear in the crowd.

The richer Romans didn’t usually walk through the crowded streets, as that would be beneath

them.

Instead, when they went out, they were carried by slaves on what’s called a litter.

They are those boxes on sticks you may have seen in the movies.

What’s surprising, though, according to this historian anyway, is that slaves were

not always identifiable by the clothes they wore.

They often wore tunics, just like anyone else.

Apparently, not many slave owners would wear togas as they were too cumbersome and not

always easy to clean.

As for cleaning, we are told that clothes would often be washed partly with urine.

The reason was that it contained lots of ammonia.

One of the jobs of a slave of course was washing these clothes, so part of their day would

be standing in baths of urine.

This was likely not the most pleasant job in the word, but laundry detergent was a long

way from being invented.

As these slaves were property, if they were damaged in some way, say hit by someone’s

donkey of their way to cleaning duties, the owner of that donkey would have to pay for

the treatment of the slave or at least pay some money to the slave’s owner.

Here we must remember that around one out of five people across the Roman empire were

slaves at one point, and there was no great feeling of injustice at least to the Romans.

Having slaves was as normal as having people that work for low wages in current day factories

or coffee shops.

For the rulers of Rome the inequality was just part of life.

We might also remember that those great Greek philosophers who for the most part were noble

and extremely clever, said a perfect society had to have slaves.

That’s just how it was, and it’s likely that Plato or Aristotle just couldn’t see

it any differently.

Remember in the Roman empire the slaves were often the losers of a battle, or at least

the surviving citizens of a losing army.

The Romans just saw it as their right to take them.

But slaves often came by way of piracy or just plain stealing.

Gangs of people would go into a town and just take the people there, then deliver them by

boats or over land to the markets where the Romans would buy them.

If those slaves had children with a Roman, those children would also be slaves.

One historian tells us that slaves were not allowed to have their own slave families.

Life was work, and that was it.

The more slaves a Roman had was part of his status, and if you had very special slaves

being able to do special things, then that also added to your status.

When in public, Romans would often come out with their slaves, showing them off to other

Romans.

These days people use things, cars, clothes, bling, to do the same thing.

And that’s what we have to remember, that slaves were seen as mere things, albeit things

that could talk.

But again, some slaves, the very special ones, did teach things such as philosophy, so we

would imagine those slaves had a higher value than someone who spent all day down in a mine

digging for gold.

We very much doubt they spent all day chained, like some of the slaves that were found after

Mount Vesuvius erupted in Pompei.

Researchers also said that some of those slaves had been worked so much that their bodies

were all out of shape.

As we said, the best thing that could happen is that you could win your freedom, and this

did happen.

Some Romans used it to make slaves work harder, telling them obedience could pay off.

Some historians also tell us that in spite of occasional slave revolts, it was in the

interest of slave owners to treat their slaves well and so many did.

A well fed slave worked harder, was happier, and would likely not dream all day about sinking

a knife into his or her owner.

We’ll leave you with the words of one writer, “No doubt, some slave owners were more generous

than others and there was, in a few cases, the possibility of earning one's freedom but

the harsh day-to-day reality of the vast majority of Roman slaves was certainly an unenviable

one.”

If you

were a

slave of any sort, what do you think would have been the best position?

Also, be sure to check out our other show Medieval Knights Were NOT Noble, But Cold-Hearted

Killers.

Thanks for watching, and as always, don’t forget to like, share and subscribe.

See you next time.