Citizen or Slave? Life in Ancient Rome

Roman Classes Upper Class- Patricians –Ruled early Rome Lower Class- Plebians –Commoners; could vote, but not be politicians Middle Class –Grew out of lower class By 287 BC each class had its own politicians

Citizens Requirements –Live in the city –Be a free man, NOT a woman or a slave Privileges –Only group that could vote –Could use judicial courts –Could make business/marriage arrangements –Had right to trial before punishment/death

To Become a Citizen Joined the army as a soldier –25 years of service Paid a large amount of money (Slaves) Freed by owners Everyone wanted to be a citizen

Slaves Prisoners of war –Soldiers, wives, children Work –House Slaves (teachers, secretaries, waiters, gardners, doctors, musicians) East –Farm Slaves (made tools, built roads) North –Underground Slaves (mined gold/other metals)

Freedom! Becoming Free –Could buy freedom (received small pay) –Escape –Go to war Slave Wars –3 in total, 2 of them in Sicily –Last, started by Spartacus in 73 BC

Slavery (ctd.) Improvements –Emperor Claudius passed a law: when a slave owner sent an old or sick slave away from the house, the slave became free –Emperor Nero: slaves could take their owners to court –Later, could petition freedom from a bad owner Problem –Too many slaves, not enough work for citizens