Eurasian Social Hierarchies Slavery in the Classical Era, 500 B.C.E – 500 C.E.

Origins of Slavery Early domestication of animals provided for the model of enslaving people. War, patriarchy, and the notion of private property. Large-scale warfare generated numerous prisoners. Women captive were the first slaves, raped, concubines. Class inequalities based on great differences in privately owned property.

Slavery Generally meant ownership by a master, the possibility of being sold, working without pay, and the status of the outsider at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Usually lacked any rights or independent personal identity recognized by the larger society.

Slavery and Civilization Greece and Rome Some slaves might be emancipated in their own lifetime, through generosity or religious convictions of their owners. China 1% of the population Convicted criminals, peasants might sell their children into slavery. India Criminals, debtors, or prisoner Could inherit and own property and earn money in their spare time.

Rome Slavery Greco-Roman world can be described as a slave society. Greece Athens: Home to some 60,000 slaves, about 1/3 of the total population. Poor families owned slaves. Some Greek slaves were granted freedom but with limited rights. Rome 2 to 3 millions slaves, 33-44 percent of the population. Wealthy Romans could own hundreds to thousands of slaves. It was a symbol of status as a free person.

No occupation was off-limits to slaves except military service. Roman slavery was not identified with a particular race or ethnic group. Egyptians, Syrians, Jews, Greeks, Gauls, North Africans, and many others found themselves alike enslaved. No occupation was off-limits to slaves except military service.