Slavery

Question 1

What was the most common way to become a slave?

Answer 1

Captured in war.

Question 2

Where were the main slave markets?

Answer 2

Rome, or the Greek island of Delos.

Question 3

How did people become slaves?

Answer 3

Most were captured prisoners of war, or were the babies of mothers who were slaves, regardless of their father’s status. Other slaves may have been abandoned at birth and brought up as slaves.
People captured by pirates could be sold into slavery and some criminals could be condemned to slavery by going into the mines or becoming gladiators.

Question 4

What did the slave-trader have to guarantee?

Answer 4

• he owned the slaves legally
• they were in healthy condition
• they were not wanted for any crime

Question 5

How much did slaves typically fetch?

Answer 5

Between 500 and 2000 denarii, depending on the talents they had to offer.

Question 6

What were the various jobs for a slave?

Answer 6

• Educated Greek slaves were highly valued as tutors for children.
• Women would typically help with the domestic chores, such as shopping, weaving, fetching water, cooking and cleaning.
• Male domestic slaves could work for the paterfamilias, doing his accounts, or accompanying him to the baths.
• Stronger male slaves might be sent down the mines, where the life expectancy was short. Others might work on large farming estates for the Roman Empire.
• The fittest and the strongest slaves might be sent to gladiator school.

Question 8

How were slaves sold?

Answer 8

They were taken to large slave markets (Rome, Delos) and stood on a revolving platform with placards around their necks giving information about them.