3. Important Terms
Manumissio- freeing of a slave
Pilleus- Wool cap (of freedom)
Peculium- savings
FVG- abbreviation of fugitivus
branded on the head of runaway
slaves.
4. Who were the slaves?
New slaves generally came into the
system either through warfare or in the
kingdom and early Republic through debt.
Thus slaves could be of all kinds of ethnic
and economic backgrounds. For example
rich officers and officials from conquered
enemies might become slaves.
Children born to a slave mother were
slaves even if their parents were freed.
5. What was life like…
The worst conditions were for unskilled slaves
who worked in large estate farms or (Even worse)
in mines or other tough conditions where they
had a short life expectancy.
But Greek and Roman slaves were sometimes
much better off than the free lower classes.
Some slaves were highly skilled as teachers,
professors, doctors, artists, secretaries, etc.
Some who worked for the emperor or other
wealthy people became super rich themselves.
6. Discussion
What is the difference between a
vernus and a servus?
Why would a slave want to increase
her peculium?
What might a pilleus cap symbolize?
How is Roman slavery like or unlike
other kinds of slavery in America or
elsewhere?
