1149: Slavery | Skeptical Sunday

Roman Practices

In Ancient Rome, slavery was deeply integrated into society, economy, and culture. Nick Pell explains that slaves were often used for large-scale projects like agriculture and mining, with many enduring brutal conditions, especially in mines 1. Despite the harsh realities, some slaves could earn their freedom through manumission or by purchasing it themselves, becoming part of the extended family 2. Pell notes, "Slaves could eventually sue their masters for poor treatment, and the masters were punished by losing their property" 3.

   

Gauls

The Romans had a complex relationship with conquered peoples like the Gauls, who were not universally enslaved. Nick Pell highlights that while some Gauls were taken as slaves, the Romans generally respected the cultures they conquered 4. This respect is evident in classical art depicting Gauls as heroic figures. Pell clarifies, "They wouldn't typically go raiding back into places they'd conquered and taking those people as slaves" 4.

   

Trade Comparisons

Comparing the transatlantic and Barbary slave trades reveals significant differences in scale and impact. Nick Pell notes that the transatlantic slave trade involved ten times more Africans than the Barbary trade, with many perishing during the Middle Passage 5. He also challenges the myth that the American Civil War ended slavery, pointing out that the 13th Amendment allows forced labor as punishment for crime 6. Pell states, "Prisoners are still allowed to be slaves. And that's big business in this country" 6.