A Day In The Life Of A Slave In Ancient Egypt

Summary

This video script debunks the myth that slaves built the pyramids of ancient Egypt. It explores the nuanced reality of slavery in ancient Egypt, where 'squire angs' or bound individuals existed, but not in the legal sense we understand today. The script outlines three forms of labor: chattel slavery, bonded labor, and forced labor, with the latter being a state-imposed duty rather than traditional enslavement. It also discusses the assimilation of slaves into society, their potential for freedom, and the possibility of attaining citizenship and property ownership.

Takeaways

• 🗝️ The common misconception that slaves built the pyramids is debunked by recent archaeological evidence, suggesting that it was either farmers during flood seasons or dedicated laborers.
• 📜 Ancient Egyptians did not have a direct word for 'slave', but there were terms like 'squire angs' indicating some form of bondage existed.
• 🤔 Egyptologists suggest that slavery in ancient Egypt might have referred to socioeconomic dependency rather than a legal status, given the lack of legal codes on slavery.
• 🏺 Three types of slavery were identified in ancient Egypt: chattel slavery, bonded labor, and forced labor, each with different origins and conditions.
• 🛡️ Chattel slaves were often prisoners of war or those born into slavery, seen as royal resources and used for various purposes including political favors.
• 💸 Bonded labor occurred when individuals sold themselves or their children into slavery due to overwhelming debt, affecting all levels of society.
• 👥 Shabti slaves were a unique type, possibly having more freedom than regular slaves, and were involved in the afterlife beliefs of ancient Egyptians.
• 🏗️ Forced labor, or corvae labor system, involved drafting workers from the general population for state projects, which was unpaid and sometimes promised payment that rarely materialized.
• 👥 Slaves in ancient Egypt were not a separate social class and were assimilated into the local population, with evidence of them marrying and living similarly to free folk.
• 🏛️ In the New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period, slaves could become citizens, own property, and had some legal protections.
• 🌏 Self-slaves from distant lands during this period signed themselves up to enter Egypt for a better life or to be granted admittance to work in the afterlife.

Q & A

What is a common misconception about ancient Egyptian slaves and the pyramids?

A common misconception is that slaves were used to build the pyramids. However, recent archaeological evidence suggests that this is not true, and it's now believed that either farmers built the pyramids during flood seasons or a dedicated workforce of laborers worked on the task their entire lives.

Did ancient Egyptians have a word for 'slave'?

Ancient Egyptians did not have a direct word for 'slave'. There were references to people who were bound for life, known as 'squire angs', suggesting some form of slavery existed, but it may not align with today's understanding of slavery.

What does the absence of a legal code outlining slavery in ancient Egypt suggest according to Egyptologist Antonio Loprieno?

Antonio Loprieno suggests that the absence of a legal code outlining slavery indicates that slavery could refer to socioeconomic dependency rather than a legal status, and that the lack of such codification in a society with a strong emphasis on written documentation is not accidental.

What types of slavery were apparent in ancient Egypt's history?

Three types of slavery were apparent in ancient Egypt's history: chattel slavery, bonded labor, and forced labor.

Who were considered chattel slaves in ancient Egypt?

Chattel slaves were prisoners of war, those guilty of illicit acts, or those born into slavery from a slave mother. They were seen as royal resources controlled by the pharaoh.

How did self-sail into slavery occur in ancient Egypt?

Self-sail into slavery occurred when individuals found themselves in too much debt and sold themselves and their children into slavery to wipe their debt, which could happen to anyone at any level of ancient Egyptian society.

What is a shabti slave, and what did they believe about the afterlife?

A shabti slave was a type of bondage slave who willingly entered servitude, possibly with more choice and freedom than regular bonded slaves. They believed in guaranteeing their place in the afterlife, which some historians argue was seen as payment enough.

What is the corvae labor system, and how was it related to the pyramids?

The corvae labor system was a form of forced labor where the ancient Egyptian government drafted workers from the general population for various state projects. This is where the belief that slaves built the pyramids originated, although it has since been disproved.

How were slaves treated in relation to the general population in ancient Egypt?

Slaves were not separate from the general population in ancient Egypt. They were assimilated into the local population and treated similarly to free folk, with evidence of slaves marrying Egyptian women.

What changes occurred in the status of slaves during the New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period?

During the New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period, slaves could become citizens of Egypt, own property, and had some legal protections. There were also instances of self-slaves who signed themselves up for a better life or to be granted admittance to work in the afterlife.

What evidence is there that slaves in ancient Egypt could leave their masters under certain conditions?

Historians have found evidence that slaves believed they could leave their masters if they had a justifiable reason, although actual instances where this happened have not been definitively proven.