Rome: Slavery in Rome (HBO)
Summary
TLDRThe script explores the complex dynamics of ancient Rome, highlighting the diverse and dynamic city life, the relationship between free people and slaves, and the varying conditions slaves faced. It delves into the emotional bonds that could form between masters and slaves, the potential for slaves to be freed, and the societal roles slaves played, from household duties to administrative positions.
Takeaways
- ποΈ Rome was a bustling metropolis with diverse cultures and religions, reflecting common urban challenges worldwide.
- π The city's dynamic nature was driven by a constant influx of immigrants, making it a melting pot of different cultures and religions.
- π€ The relationship between free people and slaves was complex, with slaves having some degree of free will and agency.
- ποΈ Slaves in ancient Rome experienced a wide range of conditions, from appalling to relatively comfortable, depending on their roles and masters.
- π° Slaves could be highly valued for their skills, education, or physical attributes, with some even becoming wealthy and powerful within the household.
- πͺ Slaves had the option to commit suicide as an honorable act if they despised their condition, reflecting the harsh realities of their existence.
- π‘ Many slaves lived in close quarters with their masters, sometimes even sharing intimate moments, highlighting the blurred lines between servitude and personal relationships.
- ποΈ The slave market was a significant part of Roman society, with slaves being bought, sold, and rented like commodities.
- π There was a possibility for slaves to be freed, offering a glimmer of hope and a chance to rise in social status.
- π The concept of a 'Roman dream' was similar to the 'American dream,' where slaves could aspire to freedom and social mobility.
Q & A
What is the primary characteristic of the city of Rome described in the script?
-Rome is described as a dynamic and incredibly diverse city with a constant influx of people from different cultures and religions, all proud to be Romans.
How is the relationship between free people and slaves depicted in the script?
-The script depicts a complex relationship where slaves have a degree of free will and can create dramatic situations. It also touches on the idea that slaves could have a wide range of experiences, from appalling conditions to living closely with their masters and being freed.
What is the significance of a slave's ability to kill themselves in the context of the script?
-The script suggests that slaves had the option to kill themselves as an honorable act if they did not like being a slave, indicating a level of autonomy and the harsh reality of their existence.
What role does the butler or steward play in the household according to the script?
-The butler or steward is one of the most powerful and rich slaves in the house, responsible for overseeing various aspects of the household and possibly having a significant amount of influence.
How did the cosmopolitan nature of Rome affect the composition of its slave population?
-Rome's conquests brought people of many ethnicities into the city, both as slaves and freed people, integrating them into Roman society and contributing to its diversity.
What percentage of the Roman population is suggested to have been slaves?
-Some estimates suggest that as much as 70 percent of the Roman population could have been slaves, highlighting the scale of slavery in ancient Rome.
What was the role of a body slave in the lives of their masters or mistresses?
-A body slave was a personal slave responsible for overseeing the hair, makeup, and general demeanor of their master or mistress, and was also a constant companion, even during intimate moments.
How did the market for slaves function in ancient Rome?
-Slaves were bought and sold like commodities in a gigantic market, with some being rented for short periods, and others being highly valued for their skills or physical attributes.
What was the 'Roman dream' for slaves as described in the script?
-The 'Roman dream' for slaves was the possibility of being freed, as indicated by the example of a tombstone memorializing a young boy who went from being a slave to being considered a son.
How did the status of slaves vary within Roman society?
-Slave status varied greatly, from those in appalling conditions working on state-run farms and in mines, to those living in close quarters with their masters and being treated with respect and even affection.
What was the significance of the awning and bench in front of the master's house for slaves?
-The awning and bench were a place where slaves hoping to petition their master would wait, hoping to be admitted into the house by the powerful and rich slave in charge of admissions.
Outlines
π The Dynamic and Diverse City of Rome
This paragraph discusses the complexity of Rome as a bustling city with a diverse population. It highlights the challenges faced by the city due to the constant influx of immigrants and the coexistence of various cultures and religions. The text also delves into the relationship between free people and slaves, emphasizing the varying degrees of freedom and autonomy that slaves could possess. The narrative explores the broad spectrum of experiences that slaves could have, from the harsh conditions in state-run farms and mines to the more privileged positions of slaves living in close proximity to their masters. The paragraph further illustrates the integral role of slaves in the functioning of Roman society, suggesting that without the underclass, the upper class would not be able to maintain their lifestyle.
ποΈ Slavery in Ancient Rome: A Complex Relationship
This paragraph explores the intricate dynamics of slavery in ancient Rome. It describes the market for slaves, where they were bought and sold like commodities, and the rental market where slaves could be hired for short periods. The text also touches on the different roles slaves could play, from being mere objects to being highly valued for their skills, education, or physical attributes. The paragraph further discusses the emotional connections that could form between masters and slaves, with some slaves even being treated with affection and respect. The possibility of slaves being freed is also highlighted, showing that there was a chance for them to rise from being property to becoming part of the household and even being loved by their masters. The narrative concludes with a reflection on the dual perception of slaves in Roman society, both as invisible and as individuals capable of evoking genuine emotions.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Immigrant
π‘Slaves
π‘Body Slave
π‘Cultural Diversity
π‘Slave Market
π‘Freedom
π‘Roman Society
π‘Slave Treatment
π‘Social Hierarchy
π‘Emotional Connection
π‘Self-Worth
Highlights
Rome was a dynamic and diverse city with an immigrant influx and a mix of cultures and religions.
There was a complex relationship between free people and slaves in ancient Rome, with slaves having some degree of free will.
Slavery in Rome was not a monolithic experience, with a wide range of conditions and roles for slaves.
Slaves could choose death as an honorable alternative to enduring enslavement.
Some slaves held positions of power and wealth within households, despite their status.
Rome was cosmopolitan, with a significant number of slaves and freed people from various ethnicities.
The number of slaves in Rome was very high, possibly up to 70 percent of the population.
Slaves were essential to the functioning of the city, with roles ranging from laborers to personal attendants.
Body slaves were personal attendants who were present at all times, even during intimate moments.
Slaves could develop close relationships with their masters, sometimes akin to family.
Slaves were bought and sold in markets, with some being rented for specific tasks or periods.
There was a hierarchy among slaves, with some holding prestigious roles such as cooks or entertainers.
Slaves could be educated and held in high regard, especially if they were well-educated Greeks.
The possibility of being freed was a significant incentive for slaves in Rome.
Emotional bonds could form between masters and slaves, with some slaves being loved and mourned.
Slaves could rise from lowly positions to become influential within a household.
The Roman dream for slaves was the potential to progress from property to family member.
Transcripts
Brown was the big city in big cities
have similar problems and force you into
similar situations the world over you've
got this immigrant based city with
constant influx of people this
cheek-by-jowl of all these different
cultures different religions all of whom
at the same time a deeply proud to be
Romans so you've got an incredibly
dynamic but also incredibly diverse city
Rome was much more of a wild and chaotic
entropolis than it's often thought of as
one of the interesting things to try and
get right is the relationship between
free people and slaves how happy and be
a slave to a degree they have free will
right no decision but it creates a whole
different set of dramatic situations how
they rest well it must be you've got to
bear in mind what being a slave in
ancient Rome really meant you got an
incredibly wide range of experience of
being a slave how could you treat
something like that if it can't have
been a slave they can kill themselves
and it's an honorable thing to do if you
don't like being slave so you don't
accuse me of having slings this person
allowed himself to be a slave yeah Roman
would kill himself I will kill octavia
and merula tends to me but if she cannot
and I am taken alive then you must kill
me and then you must kill yourself your
survival would be inappropriate I
wouldn't think of living domina he's
like the butler or the steward but he's
one of the most powerful and rich slaves
in the house five thousand denarii that
much but he's still a slave
I needed ruin at all
your mother will let me out domina
there were appalling conditions for
slaves the huge state-run farms the
mines you went there you give you three
months you might survive that mill but
that's as the tiny fraction of slaves
many slaves are living in complete
conditions to trust alongside their
masters and mistresses and very often
they're freed this was a very
cosmopolitan city Rome had already
conquered much of the known world and so
there were people of many ethnicities
who came in both slaves and freed people
who came in an internment of the Roman
society no one knows how many slaves
that were in comparison with them what
you have to call free people in Rome but
it's a very very high number some people
suggest is as much as 70 percent think
of how Rome was built thousands and
thousands of people that literally died
in the building of Rome people they
brought with them either told hundreds
of thousands of slaves so that to the
point where they had one person just for
the drapes one person just the polished
statues and if they did it wrong he just
took him out and replaced them it slaves
they were maybe the most important
aspect of the city without them the city
couldn't exist without the underclass
there is no upper class they couldn't
live in the house they couldn't eat they
couldn't dress they couldn't do anything
attea and Siviglia are both constantly
attended by a body slave who is a
personal slave and it would be
responsible probably for overseeing
things like hair and makeup and their
general demeanor and comportment but
he's also there just as a constant
companion Marilla is my body slave which
was a woman that was with them at all
times from when they went to the
bathroom to if they made love to it at
all times even in your most intimate
moment they do your makeup and your hair
but then they like stay with you all the
time all over time that's a little too
close for comfort for me what is left
when just now I can't avoid to fall in
her she's a sort of a black soul of hair
you know it's always present she knows
everything in the house she knows
everything of the private life of these
people she's probably known me since I
was a baby and it's like my mother I
care for her and she looks out for me
and should anything happen to her I
might surprise myself and feel one
little tear roll down there are you know
small and meaningful exchanges and you
know you to imagine that this body-safe
has been around for quite a long time
and it's in a position of trust I long
to be together
I'm a body slave to Siviglia I'm very
close to her when she asks for my
opinion I'll give it great affection he
could not say love would you have him
pluck a harp he's a soldier not a poet
the day dwindles I guess I'll be
arriving there's an intimacy there I'm
older than her
I've suffered she's suffering I'm loyal
it's a fierce loyalty these people which
is there to service your life and they
were very lucky because they're in a
position it should be respected and
they're living in a beautiful house and
being fed and clothed basically by
slaves as a business that took place in
the gigantic market at auction
well slaves were basically like buy a
car 5566 they saw if you had one slave
that was ok if you were 3/3 slave house
that it showed your prosperity it's all
skin and bone hey you want a good price
let us feed them up put some fat on them
a couple of weeks of easy living and
these puppies will sell like duck hearts
you can get secondhand slaves
unfortunately there's also a rental
slave market so you can rent slaves for
the day or for the week and there's also
a top end of the market being a cook or
being possessed of of AG lovely singing
voice or perhaps also just being
possessed a great physical beauty
they were just objects I mean like like
a table or a chair just your property to
do whatever you wanted with it's given a
sense also of the way in which I think
Romans might have regarded slaves which
is curiously complex is both that they
weren't really there they didn't really
count come to sell my stock
but on the other hand they were also
really human and they were people whom
you could feel real emotions towards and
and you could really even come to love
father bought him back from God he was
selling him as soon as you get some
caliber some slaves had a certain amount
of status if you were a very
well-educated Greek you would be
incredibly expensive for one thing and
you'd be a very valued asset to whoever
owned you and probably treat it fairly
well it's probably the only time in
history
captors ie the Romans became the
captives because they worshiped
everything Greek they were used as
administrators and treasurers and
trusted advisors to many of the leaders
poscar here thinks I should accept Druce
make peace in exchange for what
Caesar has a special relationship with
his slave pasca peace is its own reward
slippery Caesar trusts him implicitly if
I am NOT a tired if I merely seek
legitimacy why would I not accept such
favorable terms he
uses to meet us in person
Amy M zero actually says if I don't come
out of this battle I just want you to
know you will be free man the great
price held out to all slaves in Rome was
the possibility of being freed there's a
lovely example on one tombstone someone
is memorializing a young boy who died at
the age of 17 and it simply says once a
slave now a son and I've always thought
that summed up the attitude in the
Romans had Falls their slaves which is
that you could progress all the way from
being just something that was bought and
could be sold to being something that
was essentially part of the house on
someone about whom you out real for whom
you had real affection for whom you felt
real emotions
there was a Roman dream just like an
American dream you could make it this
bench here with the awning over it is a
place where the people who came to pay
courts to the great master of the house
they would hope that they were going to
get admitted in through that door over
there and they would be allowed to go
and put their petition the person who
comes out through the door is one of the
most powerful and rich slaves in the
house and he had the power as to who
should be admitted and who should be
left outside so that's the top end of
the slave spectrum but also outside the
door you would have seen people at the
very bottom end of the hierarchy and
they may well be attached to something
like this you'd be brand on your arm or
more likely when they branded you here
maybe if you stayed here 20 years you
could graduate up from being the door
slave standing here to being the rich
master slave of the household the
steward and you can come out here and
give the Freeborn Roman sir a hard time
get your own back
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