The Role Of Slavery In Ancient Rome
Slavery was a major mercantile in ancient Rome. In terms of economic value, slaves can be consider as an important commodity for the Romans, as its demand were high enough. Thus, in every three Roman households have used slaves' labor. On other hand, there were two types of slave, the white-collar and blue-collar slave. The labor forces of those slaves was an integral to the overall economy of Rome as without them plantation farms left uncultivated and unproductive and major businesses will not flourish without those slaves, who work as accountant and managers, that ran them (Classic page website, n.d).
Important infrastructure projects during that time such as the construction of public edifices, roads and other public developmental
projects had been heavily dependent on the creativity and sweat blood of slaves--who were the laborers, engineers and architects. Furthermore, the intellectual Greek slaves served as academic administrators, teachers, "librarians"and "tutors" to Roman universities (Classic Page website, n.d). Greeks has taught Romans how "to read" and hugely influenced their minds on Greeks' academic learning standard.(Morey, 1901)l
Health institutions such as hospitals had also employed slave doctors and other health workers. While bureaucratic offices such as the Roman tax department and public "administration," slaves considered as the valuable "machinery" for these government offices to function efficiently. Slaves were also works as "scribes" and some were "artists and entertainers." And, of course the most common duty we usually heard were servants or household staffs of "villas, town house, and palaces" (Classic page website, n.d).
In conclusion, slaves play a vital part on Roman economy. Their priceless contribution to the Roman society fuels economic growth. Without them Roman could hardly flourish as a strong economic and military power for a long period. In our time, I believe the concept of slavery still exist as most of us or our parents are workers or employees to government and private corporations, who always following orders and served to the interest of company's owners and stock holders, however the word "slave" is not obvious anymore as they changed it to other names such as employees, staff, care taker, cleaner, valet, "household companions"(servants) and etc to make pleasing to one's ears.
Important infrastructure projects during that time such as the construction of public edifices, roads and other public developmental
projects had been heavily dependent on the creativity and sweat blood of slaves--who were the laborers, engineers and architects. Furthermore, the intellectual Greek slaves served as academic administrators, teachers, "librarians"and "tutors" to Roman universities (Classic Page website, n.d). Greeks has taught Romans how "to read" and hugely influenced their minds on Greeks' academic learning standard.(Morey, 1901)l
Health institutions such as hospitals had also employed slave doctors and other health workers. While bureaucratic offices such as the Roman tax department and public "administration," slaves considered as the valuable "machinery" for these government offices to function efficiently. Slaves were also works as "scribes" and some were "artists and entertainers." And, of course the most common duty we usually heard were servants or household staffs of "villas, town house, and palaces" (Classic page website, n.d).
In conclusion, slaves play a vital part on Roman economy. Their priceless contribution to the Roman society fuels economic growth. Without them Roman could hardly flourish as a strong economic and military power for a long period. In our time, I believe the concept of slavery still exist as most of us or our parents are workers or employees to government and private corporations, who always following orders and served to the interest of company's owners and stock holders, however the word "slave" is not obvious anymore as they changed it to other names such as employees, staff, care taker, cleaner, valet, "household companions"(servants) and etc to make pleasing to one's ears.