Origins & treatment
True or False: Children of slaves were born free?
False
Define a latifundia
Large agricultural states (farms)
What types of slaves were highly valued in Roman society?
Intellectual or educated slaves - gained trusted/important roles in the household and also taught Roman youths.
How were slaves viewed in society? (what was their status essentially)
As the property of their master with VERY FEW rights and a low status.
The Palmyra Tariff was a large stela inscription inscribed in Aramaic and Greek. What does it tell us about life in Palmyra?
It is an important piece of evidence for the economic life of Palmyra e.g., taxable services, regulations, items that were imported/exported etc.
Identify three ways people became enslaved.
Captured through warfare, by slave traders or pirates.
For not paying debts or as punishment for a crime (even one committed by a family member).
Some were found (abandoned children)
Others were bred (by previously owned slaves).
Explain the difference between a public and private slave
Public - owned by the state of Rome (so worked for the government on public works etc.)
Private - privately owned by someone, so they undertook jobs/served only their master.
How could some female slaves gain their freedom?
By giving birth to many children who became slaves of the master
During which festival did the slaves not have to work, could gamble, wear their masters clothing etc.
Saturnalia
What two languages are most of the inscriptions from Palmyra written in?
Greek and Aramaic
Who were the vernae and why may they have been treated differently?
They were the slaves that were born within the household; they seem to have been cared for more as it was likely they were the children of free males within that household.
Name given to the "pocket money" or wealth that a slave had (though technically in death this belonged to the master)
Peculium
Slaves could not legally marry, but what was the 'union' they could enter with another ?
A contubernium
Describe the practices/laws that were put in place to stop/hinder slaves from running away (at least 2)
•Roman citizens forbidden by law to hide run away slaves – otherwise they were fined double the value of the slave him/herself.
•Advertisements were posted with descriptions of escapes slaves and rewards for their capture
•Professional slave-catchers were also hired to hunt down runaway slaves.
Provide 3 different points that describe the Silk Road
There are a range of major cities located along the silk road routes
Connected cultures from the east and west with one another
A number of different kingdoms had territories the Silk Road went through
It was made up of multiple routes - including sea and land.
There were a number of hazards for those travelling the Silk Road e.g. wild animals, bandits, the elements.
The Silk Road facilitated trade and the exchanging of ideas, customs and technology.
Which of these authors provides evidence of a more compassionate attitude towards slaves?
- Columella?
- Cato the Elder?
- Plutarch?
Columella - recommended that rural slaves be consulted on any new work, he felt that by asking their opinions and following advice that slaves would be more likely to work well. He appreciated the skills/contributions his slaves could make and wished to use these to his advantage.
Both Cato & Plutarch's perspectives seem to view slaves as 'cattle' or mere property.
Identify three different roles/jobs female Roman slaves would traditionally have...
-As ‘body slaves’ to wealthier Romans – cleaning, grooming and dressing her mistress and being her constant companion. Applying make-up, dressing hair and caring for the clothes of wealthy Roman women.
-They could have also been educated as a private secretary or a stenographer (a scribe who records oral transcripts)
-In agriculture on farms
-Entertainment: e.g. as prostitutes (or a procuress), singers
- Domestic slaves e.g. cleaners/cooks/nanny
How could manumission be gained by a slave?
•Either granted by a master (sometimes in a will)
•Purchased themselves using a peculium
Describe the event described by Tacitus that occurs in 61 BCE - what happened and what was the impact?
•a notoriously shocking crime – a household slave killed his master (a prefect – official) Pedanius Secundus due to an argument over the price of his freedom (or due to his love for a male prostitute some claimed…)
•As a result, the law dictated that the entire slave household be executed for this crime – all men, women and child slaves were killed.
Provide 4 points that describe Palyra's role as a caravan city on the Silk Road
As a trading centre
As a safe stop over on the Silk Road – allowed caravans to pass through the Syrian desert rather than along the skirts of it.
A political presence in the region – creating order, security, tariffs, laws etc.
A significantly large city which resupplied caravans.
Identify 2 punishments slaves received for MINOR crimes
Identify 2 punishments slaves received for MAJOR crimes
Minor - Flogged (whipped), fitted with an inscribed metal collar describing misdemeanour or branded on the forehead with letters FUG (fugitive)
Major - Put in chains, tortured, imprisoned, forced to become a gladiator or crucified.
Identify 5 different types of slaves (Think= occupations / industries)
Domestic/Household
Agricultural/Farming
Mining/Quarrying
Commerce/Industry
Demolition/Construction
Public Slaves for the state
Gladiators
Identify five reasons for the significance of slaves in Roman society - Why were they important? What impact did they have?
- Economic importance (undertook a lot of commercial activity for masters/independently, agricultural economy)
- Important for infrastructure such as building of roads, aqueducts etc.
- Allowed wealthier Romans to undertake other cultural activities e.g. poetry, philosophy etc.
- Helped to raise/educate Roman youth
- Helped to produce a majority of the food/crops for Rome (huge population/army to feed)
- Helped produce resources/goods for trade (e.g. mines)
What major fear did the Roman citizens have of slaves - Cato the elder discusses this in his work
Romans feared the threat of their slaves, comparing them to being ones ‘enemies’. Cato warns that you will have as many of these as you have slaves – fear of being overrun by too many/revolts.
Identify 5 features/aspects of life found in Palmyra which reflect foreign influence
Architecture: Graeco/Roman e.g. columns, theatre, temples etc. and Eastern (Semitic/Persian) e.g. bazaar or souk
Different languages being used
Bi-lingual official inscriptions in Greek/Palmyrene
Art: Sculptures had a much stronger Eastern look in their variety of styles and presentation
Clothing – A mix of Greek and Persian garb: a man might wear a linen or wool chiton and cloak like any upper-class Greek; a woman in an elaborate jewelled headdress and veil, an abundance of ornamentation, perhaps a gently draping dress with familiar Greek designs, or a more flowing gown embroidered in an Eastern design.
Names used – mix of Greek, Roman and Palmyrene (inscriptions/tombs provide evidence of names of inhabitants).
Religion – temples, religions, practices, ritual objects etc. (all portrayed in art)
Entertainment e.g. the Roman theatre