Roman Slavery Flashcards
Vernae
Someone who has born in a slave. These slaves were distinct because they were seen as submissive instead of rebellious as other slaves that weren’t born as slaves. As a result they were preferred by romans
You can become a vernae in slave factories where women are sexed and sell their child as slaves. many issues with infant mortality happened here too
Paedagogia
slave schools where child vernae are bought by businessesmen and trained as specialist slaves. As these children age they can be sold for exceptionally high cash
paedagogues
Slave teachers. These slave teachers jobs was to educate adults and kids and rich so they can learn. these slaves were at times smarter than masters
Public Slavery
Common slaves. worked with public sector. civil service. constricuton.
Familia Caesaris - Similar to eunuch. cant spit on them, mistreat them
Familia Rustica (Private Slavery)
2 groups:
Latifundia (Most) - Life was rough. Wake up at dawn, work on fields. work till sun down and they are locked in ergastula
Pastoralist - slaves who herd animals. job was to watch animals eat and drink. life was easy. they worked on their own schedule. few were chosen. these slaves had to be armed to pretect animals.
What were vilicus/vilica and magister pectoris (herd masteR)?
Vilicus (male) / Vilicia - Slaves that watched slaves
Mgister Pectoris - watched pastoralist
Ergastula
Barrier, dungeon. Place where slaves were tortured in rooms like jail overnight. these slaves worked till death and were easily repleaceable (the latifundia slaves that is)
Familia Urbana City Slaves (3rd branch)
slaves in urban areas.
Industry slaves (minority) - porters, carry packages, crafts,
Domestic slaves - majority. such as ordinarii, triclianrcha, nomanclator (all explained in next questions)
Aedituus “major domo”
CEO of city slaves. Job is to manage all the managers of domestic slaves, manages ordinarii
Ordinarii
Manages slaves in their area they’re assigned too (like the kitchen, so manage them there)
Triclinaiarcha
Event planner. Prepared entertainment or food plans. mastermind behind everything. reports their plans to ordinarri to get the slaves to do stuff
Nomenclater
Public relations dude. Annouces someones credentials at say a party. makes sure everyone would know a rich patrician or something
Pedisequi
“Entourage slaves” Accompany their masters among trips and stuff
Pantumini
Slaves for entertainment like mimes
Litterati
Educated, literate slaves. trained in paedogogia. specialized jobs like poetry and entertainment
(a form of can be cellarius too)
Cellarius
Slave accountant. Kept track of financial records
Body servants
Slaves that were treated well, worst that could happen were demotions into the dreaded latifundia). took care of bodies. like brushing teeth, combing hair
Order of the domestic slaves
AOT (Aeditus, ordinarii, triclinairacha)
Familia Gladiatoria (gladiators)
Gladiators. Wealthiest people had these types of slaves. slaves trained to fight. Romans took this idea from etruscans.
LANISTA owere the overseer of slaves
How did the gladiators system work?
It started as a funeral service, where matches happen in honor of those who died, it was the highest form of respect. octovian took over, made gladiatorial matches games instead of funerals, sometimes became political overtime. Becomes state sponsored. Became entertainment, would sometimes even put agendas on the shirts of gladtiors so people can root for someone.
Sometimes people voluntarily did it so they can get second chance to die in an honorable way. Some hoped to become famous like flama
The story of flamma
The Michael Jordan of gladiators. Soldier in roman army, soldier hit him, he hit back. made an example of, became a gladiator so everyone could see him die. consistently beat the odds and killed all of his challenges. kept over coming ridiculously stacked odds. became ridiculously popular, admired, and loved.
His lanista (overseer of gladitors) got rich of success. Flamma was offered wooden sword said no. He enjoyed the fame and not being free. Eventually became free and accepted it but still fought
Where did Roman slaves come from? (When they aren’t vernae)
Warfare, POW.
Trade by giving away goods and slave breeders
How were roman slaves conceptualized?
Intrusive slavery. The concept was that slavery was all about the body. Master could do whatever they wanted (altho there was right to trial)
What were the powers Pater Familia (father) had over slaves?
Potestas - Power of family, daughter and marriage. Couldn’t violate family
Dominium - power control over slaves bodies (sex, murder)
