Roman society: structure, culture, and daily life

Roman Slavery

The slaves of ancient Rome were taken from countries all over the Mediterranean as these countries were conquered by the Roman legions. These slaves were used in practically every way possible by the Romans. Some were used as general laborers on plantations or other agricultural environments. Others were used as house servants and personal attendants in homes and in the workplaces of the more affluent Roman citizens. However, unlike the American slave owners, attention was given to any particular skill, ability or specialized training that a slave may have. Skilled, trained, or especially beautiful slaves were considered more valuable than their unskilled or uncomely peers. These skills were often put to good use and it as such it was not uncommon to find a medical doctor as a slave. It was possible for a slave to earn wages and eventually buy themselves out of slavery and acquire full Roman citizenship.

Slavery declined in the Roman Empire very slowly. It disappeared over time as new and cheaper labor was introduced into the economy. The typical Roman landowner often found it cheaper and easier to acquire laborers that were free citizens and have them enter into serfdom for their lands. This allowed the landowner to have more land worked by more people for less since it was not his responsibility to provide for these people as he would have to in order to maintain a slave, now would they have to invest in the initial purchase of such laborers as he would a slave. Once this trend started many farmers preferred not to invest into slavery because they saw it as a declining market. Naturally the slaves themselves were considered eligible for liquidation of assets, so if a farmer were to invest a large sum to purchase a slave and yet not have the potential to sell this same slave for a higher price (because of the skills and training they had received while working in their household) at a later date then this would logically be seen as a bad investment. Eventually the laws of supply and demand took over and the slave industry was finally put to rest.