Post on 19-Jan-2016
Roman Slavery
This PowerPoint presentation accompanies
Closeup Teaching Unit 4.5.2Roman Slavery
100 BCE – 450 CE
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Welcome to the Roman
empire!
3
In the Roman
empire there
were lots of
people: men,
women, and
children
4
But many of
these men,
women, and
children were
not free …
They were
slaves.
5
How did they
become slaves?
6
Some were captured by
Roman soldiers in
war.
7
Others were born
to mothers
who were slaves.
8
Others were abandoned by their parents
when they were babies.
Maybe the parents were too poor to raise them.
9
Others were kidnapped
by pirates or robbers and
sold into slavery.
Pirate ship
What kind of a
life did a slave
have?
11
She or he had
to work for the
owner.
Some
slaves
worked in
the kitchen.
12
Even little children,
like Iunius, had to
work in the master’s kitchen.
Other slaves had to serve the food and drink.
13
Others entertained the
owners by singing, playing
musical instruments, or acting on the
stage!
Some wealthy Roman matrons had many slaves to help them get dressed, to do their hair …
15
Some slaves were trained
to fight as gladiators!
Sometimes slave
women fought in
gladiatorial combats!
16
Did all slaves
work in cities
and towns?
No! Many had
to grow
crops, watch
flocks … and
slave children
made good
shepherds!
17
What happened if you did not obey
your owner?
You could be punished
severely; you could be beaten and even locked up or tied
up.
Was there no way out of slavery?
19
Yes! You couldbe manumitted!
20
Other masters freed their
slaves in their will.
A slave could buy his own freedom with his savings
(peculium)
And if the master
followed certain
formalities, the ex-slave
became a Roman citizen!
Some masters manumitted
their slaves as a special reward.
21
No, but some slaves who
could no longer take the lack of freedom or
their owners’ mistreatment
could offer resistance!
Could every slave hope to
be manumitted?
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They could even use magic!
They could start a slave
rebellion!
They could run
away!
23
But … They were not always
successful …
And punishment
could be severe.
24
Most slaves just carried
on with their lives.
It was going to be a very long time
before slavery was officially abolished.
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The End
This PowerPoint presentation accompanies
Closeup Teaching Unit 4.5.2Roman Slavery
100 BCE – 450 CE