One in five people lived as a slave during the Roman Empire's peak.
In short: This video examines the pervasive nature of slavery in ancient Rome. It traces the institution from its early origins through the Republic and into the Empire, explaining how a system that treated humans as mere property became the backbone of Roman labor.
Slavery in Rome was not a static institution; it evolved significantly from the Kingdom period, dated between 753 and 509 BCE, through the Republic, which lasted from 509 to 27 BCE. By the time of the Roman Empire, spanning 27 BCE to 476 CE, it had become the most common form of labor, with approximately one in five people held in bondage.
Initially, slaves were primarily prisoners of war. Over time, the sources of enslaved people expanded to include those sold by families to settle debts, victims of kidnapping, and convicted criminals, alongside those born into the status. Legally, these individuals possessed no rights and were categorized as property, holding the same status as inanimate objects like furniture or household vessels.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: History of Slavery in Ancient Rome
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