Rome

Most slaves in ancient Rome were acquired through warfare. With Roman armies bringing captives back as part of the reward, this brought much income and would also serve as an alternative to killing them.

People could sell their children into slavery and creditors could claim insolvent debtors as slaves, but it was illegal for people to sell themselves as this could provide scope to commit fraud. Children, abandoned at birth, were also collected and made slaves.

Sale of slaves was primarily acquired by whole slave’s dealers who followed the Roman armies. Most people who wanted slaves only wanted the strong. The Roman people wanted to know exactly what they was buying so the slaves was presented naked. Child slaves cost less than an adult; so many owners would buy them young and make them work harder so they would intern become stronger adults. The young female slaves were treated better in a way till the age where they could please a man, then was taken advantage of and tossed aside like trash. Julius Caesar once sold the entire population of a conquered region in Gaul, no fewer than 53,000 people, to slave dealers on the spot. Slaves were sold at public auction and even in shops by private sale for more valuable slave dealing were overseen by the roman fiscal officials called Quipsters. The good treatment of slaves in Rome was one of the positive and beneficial aspects of the slave system. For example, some slaves were given many privileges, comforts and were treated better than most people would have imagined.Some masters treated their slaves with care and affection as their own children.Some masters owned businesses in which they bought young females into prostitution to increase their wealth. Some masters physically abused their slaves.

Some slaves became combat fighters known as gladiators and chariot racers. The gladiators had to fight strong and vicious animals such as lions, tigers and other animals in an arena so that the Roman citizens could entertain themselves. In most cases, the gladiator was killed by the animals. One of the most famous gladiators was Spartacus, who led a slave revolt in which he destroyed seven Roman armies and later was killed along with many of his men. Due to the cruel and inhumane treatment by some masters, slaves usually resented their masters which resulted in chaos.

More information click on the links below to take you to another website with even more info.

[]