La schiavitù a Roma - Breve storia del fenomeno
Summary
TLDRThis script delves into the history of slavery in ancient Rome, highlighting its expansion following the conquest wars between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. Slaves were primarily prisoners of war, used in agriculture and mines, and were regarded as 'speaking tools' by the Latin writer Varro. Living conditions were harsh, especially for those in the fields and mines. Some slaves, like the Greek Livius Andronicus, could be freed (liberti) and gain economic independence, while others became wealthy businessmen. Strong slaves were used as gladiators, with Spartacus leading a major slave revolt in 73 BCE. The script also touches on the philosophical views of Seneca, who advocated for humane treatment of slaves. It concludes by noting that while slavery was never abolished in Rome, conditions improved over time, and the concept of tied peasants in the Middle Ages foreshadowed the persistence of servitude into the modern era, with slavery only being abolished in 19th-century Europe and still existing in various forms today.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ Slavery in Rome dates back to its earliest times but significantly increased after the wars of conquest between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE.
- 👥 Slaves were primarily prisoners of war, brought from conquered regions and assigned to various tasks, especially in the fields and mines.
- 🗣️ Varro, a Latin writer from the 1st century BCE, referred to slaves as 'speaking tools', highlighting their lack of rights and being treated like cattle or agricultural instruments.
- 🔗 Slaves' living conditions were dreadful, particularly in the countryside where the most dangerous were chained and kept in ergastula, underground prisons.
- 🏡 Domestic slaves, who worked inside the house, were treated better and considered part of the family.
- 📚 Educated slaves, especially those of Greek origin, could become tutors for their masters' children and some could be freed, like Livio Andronico, who translated the 'Odyssey' into Latin.
- 🗳️ Freed slaves, known as 'liberti', did not acquire all the rights of a freeborn citizen, such as voting, but enjoyed economic independence.
- 💰 Some freedmen became wealthy through business, like Trimalchio from Petronius' 'Satyricon', who was depicted as a paradoxical figure showing off his wealth.
- 🛡️ Strong and robust slaves were used as gladiators in popular circus games, especially during the Imperial era, and were trained in specialized schools, like the famous one in Capua where Spartacus came from.
- ⚔️ Spartacus led a slave revolt known as the Third Servile War in 73 BCE, which caused significant destruction in central Italy before being suppressed by Licinius Crassus.
- 📜 There were dissenting voices in Rome, like the philosopher Seneca, who, while not explicitly condemning slavery, considered slaves as human beings and praised humane treatment of them.
Q & A
What was the primary source of slaves in ancient Rome?
-The primary source of slaves in ancient Rome were prisoners of war, who were deported from the conquered regions to Italy.
How did Varro, a Latin writer, describe slaves in the first century BC?
-Varro described slaves as 'instrumenta loquendi', meaning 'talking tools', indicating that they were considered similar to cattle or agricultural tools without any rights.
What were the living conditions of slaves, particularly in the countryside?
-The living conditions of slaves were terrible, especially in the countryside where the most dangerous were chained and kept in ergastoli, which were like underground prisons.
How were slaves treated if they were caught after escaping?
-Escaped slaves, if caught, would suffer severe punishments, and in many cases, death.
What was the status of domestic slaves compared to others?
-Domestic slaves, who worked inside the house, were treated better and were considered members of the family.
What opportunities did educated slaves have in ancient Rome?
-Educated slaves, especially those of Greek origin, could become tutors for the children of their masters, and some of them could be freed, as in the case of Livius Andronicus.
What was the term for a freed slave in ancient Rome?
-A freed slave was called a 'liberto' in ancient Rome.
What were the economic freedoms and opportunities for liberti?
-Liberti, although not acquiring all the rights of a born citizen, such as voting, enjoyed economic independence and could engage in business, with some becoming very wealthy.
What role did strong and robust slaves play in the Roman Empire?
-Strong and robust slaves were employed as gladiators in the very popular circus games, especially during the imperial era.
What is the Third Servile War, and who led it?
-The Third Servile War, led by Spartacus, was a major slave revolt that took place in 73 BC, causing significant destruction across central Italy before being suppressed by Licinius Crassus.
How did the philosopher Lucius Anneus Seneca view slaves?
-Lucius Anneus Seneca, although not explicitly condemning slavery, considered slaves as human beings and praised his disciple for treating his slaves humanely, applying the principles of historical philosophy.
How did the condition of slaves gradually improve during the Imperial Age?
-During the Imperial Age, the condition of slaves gradually improved, aligning more with that of free peasants, and by the time of Constantine, coloni were bound to the land, and those leaving the estates were considered fugitive slaves.
When was slavery abolished in Europe, and is it still present today?
-Slavery was abolished in Europe only in the 19th century. However, forms of slavery still exist today, especially in developing countries where labor is exploited in various ways, and it is also present in some developed countries, such as through agricultural labor exploitation.
Outlines
🏛️ Ancient Roman Slavery Overview
This paragraph discusses the historical context of slavery in ancient Rome, highlighting its increase following the conquest wars between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. Slaves were primarily prisoners of war, brought from conquered regions and assigned to various tasks, especially in the fields and mines. The Latin writer Varro described slaves as 'speaking tools,' emphasizing their lack of rights and the harsh conditions they faced, including being chained and kept in ergastoli, or underground prisons. Domestic slaves were treated better and considered family members, while some educated slaves could become tutors for their masters' children and even be freed, like Livio Andronico, who translated the 'Odyssey' into Latin. Freed slaves, known as 'liberti,' gained economic independence but did not acquire full citizen rights. The paragraph also mentions the paradoxical figure of Trimalchio from Petronius' 'Satyricon,' a wealthy ex-slave who flaunts his riches extravagantly. Additionally, it touches on the use of strong slaves as gladiators and the famous slave revolt led by Spartacus in 73 BC.
📜 The Evolution and Ethical Considerations of Slavery
The second paragraph delves into the evolution of slavery in Rome and the ethical considerations surrounding it. It mentions the gradual improvement in the condition of slaves during the Imperial age, drawing parallels with the status of free peasants. The principate of Constantine saw coloni, or tenants, tied to the land, with those leaving considered as fugitive slaves, sometimes punishable by death. This foreshadows the medieval serfdom and the persistence of slavery in the countryside up to the early modern era, with its abolition in Europe only occurring in the 19th century. The paragraph concludes by noting that forms of slavery still exist today, particularly in developing countries where labor is exploited in various ways, and also sadly present in some developed countries, such as through agricultural labor practices like 'bracciantato.'
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Slaves
💡Instrumenta Vocis
💡Ergastoli
💡Domestic Slaves
💡Liberti
💡Peculium
💡Gladiators
💡Third Servile War
💡Lucio Anneo Seneca
💡Coloni
💡Bracciantato
Highlights
Slavery in Rome existed from ancient times but increased significantly after the wars of conquest between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE.
Slaves were mainly war prisoners brought to Italy from subdued regions and were used in various activities, especially in the countryside and mines.
Latin writer Varro in the 1st century BCE described slaves as 'speaking tools' with no rights, as their masters could dispose of them as they wished.
The living conditions of slaves were terrible, especially in the countryside where the most dangerous were chained and kept in underground prisons called ergastula.
Slaves had to wear a kind of medallion around their necks with the master's name; runaway slaves faced severe punishments, often death.
Domestic slaves who worked inside the house were treated better and considered part of the family, and more educated slaves, like Greeks, became teachers.
Freed slaves were called 'liberti' and, while they did not gain all the rights of a free-born citizen, they enjoyed economic independence.
Some freed slaves accumulated wealth through business, with some becoming very rich, such as Trimalchio in Petronius's Satyricon.
The strongest and most robust slaves were used as gladiators in the popular circuses, especially during the imperial era, trained in schools like the famous one in Capua.
Spartacus, a slave from Thrace, led the Third Servile War against Rome in 73 BCE, causing significant turmoil in central Italy before being defeated by Licinius Crassus.
Philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca, during Nero's reign, regarded slaves as human beings and praised his disciple for treating his slaves humanely.
Although slavery was never abolished in Rome, the condition of slaves gradually improved during the imperial era, becoming similar to that of free peasants.
Under Emperor Constantine, colonists were bound to the land, and those who left were treated as fugitive slaves, sometimes punished with death.
This condition anticipated the serfdom of the Middle Ages, with slavery in the countryside persisting until the modern age, abolished in Europe in the 19th century.
Forms of slavery still exist today, especially in developing countries where labor exploitation is common, but also in some developed countries through practices like agricultural labor.
Transcripts
[Musica]
a roma gli schiavi furono presenti sin
dall'epoca più antica ma il loro numero
crebbe molto in seguito alle guerre di
conquista tra iii e ii secolo avanti
cristo gli schiavi erano soprattutto
prigionieri di guerra deportati in
italia dalle regioni sottomesse di
venivano destinati a varie attività
specie nelle campagne e nelle miniere lo
scrittore latino varrone nel primo
secolo avanti cristo
li definisce strumenti parlanti poiché
erano considerati simili ai buoi o agli
attrezzi agricoli e non avevano alcun
diritto in quanto i loro padroni
potevano disporre di loro come volevano
le condizioni di vita degli schiavi
erano terribili soprattutto nelle
campagne dove i più pericolosi erano
incatenati e tenuti negli ergastoli
simili a prigioni sotterranee in genere
dovevano indossare una specie di
medaglione al collo che riportava il
nome del padrone e quelli che fuggivano
se ripresi subivano durissime punizioni
in molti casi la morte solo gli schiavi
domestici adibiti ai lavori all'interno
della casa erano trattati meglio ed
erano considerati membri della famiglia
quelli di origine greca o comunque più
colti diventavano maestri dei figli dei
padroni e alcuni di loro potevano essere
affrancati cioè liberati come nel caso
di livio andronico l'autore della
traduzione latina dell'odissea
lo schiavo liberato dal padrone veniva
detto liberto e pur non acquistando
tutti i diritti di un cittadino nato
libero ad esempio non poteva votare
tuttavia godeva di indipendenza
economica
molti liberti anzi potendo disporre di
un proprio peculio ossia una somma di
denaro accumulata nel tempo si davano
agli affari alcuni diventavano molto
ricchi come il personaggio di
trimalchione nel romanzo di petronio
arbitro satyricon costui è presentato
come una figura paradossale che offre un
sontuoso banchetto in una magnifica casa
e ostenta in modo eccessivo le sue
ricchezze
ospiti
lui trimalchione a tante terre che per
vederle ci vorrebbero le ali di un
nibbio e fa soldi su soldi gli altri
suoi compagni di schiavitù di un tempo
occhio a non prenderli sotto gamba si
son fatti i soldi anche loro
gli schiavi più forti e robusti venivano
impiegati come gladiatori nei giochi
circensi molto popolari soprattutto in
età imperiale e venivano addestrati in
scuole apposite come quella famosa di
capua da cui proveniva spartaco questi
originario della regione della traccia
nel 73 avanti cristo capeggia una
rivolta di schiavi detta terza guerra
servile che mise a ferro e fuoco buona
parte dell'italia centrale
l'insurrezione fu domato a fatica da
licinio crasso e migliaia di prigionieri
furono crocifissi lungo la via appia
incluso lo stesso spartaco
a roma ci furono comunque voci
dissonanti come nel caso del filosofo
lucio anneo seneca vissuto nell'età di
nerone che pur non condannando
espressamente la schiavitù considerava
comunque gli schiavi come esseri umani
in una delle lettere morali a lucilio
infatti elogia il suo discepolo perché
tratta i suoi servi umanamente
applicando i principi della filosofia
storica e mostrando una sensibilità
vicina a quella cristiana
[Musica]
ho sentito con piacere da persone
provenienti da siracusa che tratti
familiar mente i tuoi servi questo
comportamento è conforme alla tua
saggezza e alla tua istruzione sono
schiavi no sono uomini
la schiavitù non fu mai abolita a roma
ma in età imperiale la condizione degli
schiavi gradualmente migliorò
allineandosi a quella dei contadini
liberi durante il principato di
costantino infatti i coloni erano legati
alla terra e quelli che lasciavano i
poderi venivano considerati come schiavi
fuggiaschi in alcuni casi puniti con la
morte
tale condizione anticipa quella della
servitù della gleba nel medioevo e anzi
la schiavitù nelle campagne perdurerà
sino alle soglie dell'età moderna
venendo abolita in europa solo nel xix
secolo
forme di schiavismo esistono ancora oggi
specie nei paesi in via di sviluppo dove
il lavoro viene sfruttato in vari modi
ma il fenomeno è tristemente presente
anche in alcuni paesi sviluppati ad
esempio attraverso la pratica del
bracciantato agricolo
Ver Más Videos Relacionados
Slavery in the Caribbean | CAHM EPISODE 5
The Largest Slave Rebellion Against the Caliphate - ANIMATED HISTORY
The Horrible Life of an Average Roman Empire Slave
The Germantown Petition Against Slavery: Crash Course Black American History #5
The Atlantic Slave Trade: Crash Course World History #24
Rome: Slavery in Rome (HBO)
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)