Carving showing slaves tending to the hair of their mistress Carving showing slaves tending to the hair of their mistress. Do you think slavery was any different in Roman times to the types of slavery studied in Y8? Does slavery still exist today?
What was life like for Roman slaves? Key words: servitude freedman What was life like for Roman slaves? Learning objectives To investigate lives of Roman slaves To write a slave story
Your task Study the information on the extract and on p.34-5 and note down the following: ‘How people became slaves’ ‘Conditions’ ‘Typical jobs’ ‘Achieving freedom’ How similar and different is this from the experiences of slavery in C18th & C19th?
“I am glad to learn from those who bring news from you that you live on friendly terms with your slaves. This is right for a sensible and well educated man like yourself?” Seneca (c.4BC-65AD), a writer talking to a friend about how slaves should be treated Do you get the impression slaves were treated well? How reliable is the evidence?
Your task Use the sources provided to gather evidence on whether slaves were treated well or badly by the Romans How trustworthy are the accounts?
This House believes that the Romans look after their slaves much better than previously imagined.
Homework Produce a slave diary describing a day in the life of a Roman slave. Try to cover the four points researched in class.
Success criteria Satisfactory Getting better Wow factor Your use of specific technical vocabulary is limited You include 2 or fewer of the research items There is only a limited effort to make it read like a diary entry and may be significantly less than 1 side of A4 You use some technical vocabulary You include at least 3 of the items from your research You write in the style of a diary You confidently use technical vocabulary, e.g. pedagogus, paterfamilia, freedman You explain in detail: ‘How people became slaves’; ‘Conditions’; ‘Typical jobs’; ‘Achieving freedom’ It’s written convincingly and imaginatively in the style of a diary and covers approx 1 side of A4
Extension task Supplement your work with your own research – there are some good links to sites such as this on Studyhistory