{"id":9956,"date":"2023-11-19T11:15:15","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T10:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9956"},"modified":"2023-11-19T11:15:15","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T10:15:15","slug":"why-did-slavery-start-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/why-did-slavery-start-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Did Slavery Start In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
Introduction<\/b><\/p>\n
Slavery has been intertwined with human societies for thousands of years, but what gave rise to its existence in ancient Rome? Slavery can have many forms and shapes, from chattel slavery, to debt bondage and systems of indentured servitude. In this article, we will examine the root causes and history of slavery in ancient Rome, analyze its implications and discuss expert perspectives on the phenomenon.<\/p>\n
What is Slavery?<\/b><\/p>\n
In order to understand why slavery started in Rome, we must first define the concept. Generally, slavery is considered a form of human exploitation, in which people are deprived of their economic, social, and political rights and held in exchange for goods and services. These goods and services can range from labor, agricultural production, artisanal or military services and even the trade of goods and commodities. Slavery, as it existed in ancient Rome, was a form of subjugation and servitude based on ancestry translated into law and endorsed by the state.<\/p>\n
How did Slavery Start?<\/b><\/p>\n
Slavery in Rome began in the fourth century B.C. as a result of government-sanctioned expansionism. As Rome grew and expanded, it formed alliances and annexed territories. When it conquered large parts of Europe and the Middle East by the first century B.C., it encountered people of different nationalities and cultures, which it subjected to a system of servitude. The people taken and enslaved by Rome ranged from prisoners of wars, to debtors and even people of foreign origin.<\/p>\n
Legality of Slavery<\/b><\/p>\n
Slavery was legally recognized by the Roman government and enshrined in law. The Roman Republic established a system of laws known as the Twelve Tables in the 5th century B.C., granting the master absolute power over the lives of slaves. This power was total and included the ability to kill or abuse them without consequence. The Roman Empire solidified these laws in the 3rd century B.C., imposing harsh punishments for runaway slaves and criminalizing slave emancipation.<\/p>\n
The Impact of Slavery<\/b><\/p>\n
The widespread nature of slavery had far-reaching implications for the people of Rome. It imposed severe restrictions on freedom of movement, as well as providing a foundation for the exploitation and abuse of power by the ruling elite. The use of slaves was also a powerful tool for those in power, as it provided a cheap source of labor that could be used to construct public buildings such as roads, temples and aqueducts.<\/p>\n
Expert Perspectives<\/b><\/p>\n
Experts agree that poverty and economic hardship were significant factors in the emergence of slavery in ancient Rome. The Encyclopedia of Ancient History states that “Rome was an agrarian society and the lowest classes of society—the poor urban plebs, or plebeians, and the slaves—were pushed into a lower social and economic status.”
\nSlavery in Rome also had economic and political benefits for its ruling elites. According to historian Dr. Kenneth S. Rothwell, “The owners of large estates and those in power found it useful to have a surplus of labor that was not paid, and with slave labor, large-scale farms were profitable and politically influential.”<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n
Slavery was an integral part of the ancient Roman society and economy, but it also had some unfavorable implications. It was a form of subjugation and servitude based on ancestry, which perpetuated poverty and oppression of the poor. Despite the fact that slavery had political, social and economic benefits for the ruling elite, it was a cruel system that had far-reaching implications for those subjected to it.<\/p>\n
The impact of slavery in ancient Rome was not limited to the boundaries of the empire, but had a global reach. This can be seen in the spread of the Roman system of laws and governance, which heavily relied on slavery and was later adopted in many parts of the world.<\/p>\n