The Roman Slave SupplyThe Roman Slave Supply

ProblemsProblems

Do not have exact numbers – cannot Do not have exact numbers – cannot quantify - only estimatequantify - only estimate

Evidence is scattered over time and Evidence is scattered over time and in terms of type of evidence – in terms of type of evidence – literature, legal, archaeologicalliterature, legal, archaeological

Evidence often anecdotalEvidence often anecdotalAlmost all evidence from slave-Almost all evidence from slave-

owning classowning class

Scale of Slave TradeScale of Slave Trade

Between 65 BCE to 30 BCE c. Between 65 BCE to 30 BCE c. 100,000 new slaves needed annually 100,000 new slaves needed annually in Italyin Italy

From 50 BCE to 150 CE over 500,000 From 50 BCE to 150 CE over 500,000 needed per yearneeded per year

Compare: New World slavery c. Compare: New World slavery c. 28,000 per annum with maximum of 28,000 per annum with maximum of 60,000 at height of slave trade60,000 at height of slave trade

The Sources of slavesThe Sources of slaves

WarfareWarfareNatural reproduction (breeding)Natural reproduction (breeding) Infant exposureInfant exposureTradeTradePiracy and brigandage Piracy and brigandage

WarfareWarfare

Warfare a constant for most of Rome’s historyWarfare a constant for most of Rome’s history Early Republic – conquest of ItalyEarly Republic – conquest of Italy Mass enslavements – early 4Mass enslavements – early 4thth century, Etruscan century, Etruscan

city of Veii – perhaps 10,000 slaves (sources not city of Veii – perhaps 10,000 slaves (sources not reliable)reliable)

during central period – most slaves came from during central period – most slaves came from outlying regions outlying regions

91-82 BCE Social War (between Rome and Italian 91-82 BCE Social War (between Rome and Italian allies, Italians became slaves againallies, Italians became slaves again

M. Aurius of Larinum (Cicero’s home town) M. Aurius of Larinum (Cicero’s home town) captured at Asculum became slave of Roman captured at Asculum became slave of Roman senator Q. Sergius and worked in senator Q. Sergius and worked in ager Gallicusager Gallicus at at Northern Adriatic coast.Northern Adriatic coast.

War captives outside ItalyWar captives outside ItalyConquest of the MediterraneanConquest of the Mediterranean

First Punic War, 256 BCE, siege of First Punic War, 256 BCE, siege of Aspis – 20,000 captivesAspis – 20,000 captives

146 BCE destruction of Carthage – 146 BCE destruction of Carthage – 55,000 enslaved55,000 enslaved

25 BCE against the Salassi (Alps) 25 BCE against the Salassi (Alps) 44,000.44,000.

198 CE emperor Septimius Severus 198 CE emperor Septimius Severus siege of a Parthian city – 100,000siege of a Parthian city – 100,000

What happened to the war What happened to the war captives?captives?

Decision left to commanding general: Decision left to commanding general: some were allowed to be ransomed some were allowed to be ransomed

Others sold off on the spot to traveling Others sold off on the spot to traveling dealers hanging around the armydealers hanging around the army

Others distributed to the soldiers as Others distributed to the soldiers as payment or bonuspayment or bonus

Not all ended up in ItalyNot all ended up in ItalyMany slave markets all over Many slave markets all over

Mediterranean worldMediterranean world

War captivesWar captives

War CaptivesWar Captives

Long-Distance Slave TradeLong-Distance Slave Trade

Independent from expansion warfareIndependent from expansion warfareRegions around Black Sea supplied Regions around Black Sea supplied

Mediterranean since 7Mediterranean since 7thth century BCE century BCE In 6In 6thth century CE, Procopius ( century CE, Procopius (de Bello de Bello

PersicoPersico 2.15.5) mentions Roman 2.15.5) mentions Roman traders exchanging salt and grain for traders exchanging salt and grain for slaves from Colchis (eastern Black slaves from Colchis (eastern Black Sea)Sea)

From a Trader’s Handbook From a Trader’s Handbook (1(1stst century CE) century CE)

ports of Malao and Opone (modern ports of Malao and Opone (modern northern Somalia) exported slavesnorthern Somalia) exported slaves

Some were sent to Egypt where they Some were sent to Egypt where they were redistributedwere redistributed

Historian Ammianus Marcellinus Historian Ammianus Marcellinus (16.7.5) about the eunuch Eutherius (16.7.5) about the eunuch Eutherius from Armenia: “His parents were from Armenia: “His parents were free, but at an early age he was free, but at an early age he was captured by members of a captured by members of a neighbouring hostile tribe, who neighbouring hostile tribe, who castrated him and sold him to some castrated him and sold him to some Roman merchants, by whom he was Roman merchants, by whom he was brought to Constantine’s palace.” brought to Constantine’s palace.”

In the West, Gaul, Germany, In the West, Gaul, Germany, BritainBritain

Last 2 centuries BCE as many as 15,000 Last 2 centuries BCE as many as 15,000 slaves from Gaul exchanged for Italian slaves from Gaul exchanged for Italian wine, wine,

From German tribes; Danube basin, etc.,From German tribes; Danube basin, etc.,Supplied to traders by local rulers who Supplied to traders by local rulers who

exchanged captives or even members of exchanged captives or even members of their own community in exchange for their own community in exchange for goods (bronze, cooking pots, wine, other goods (bronze, cooking pots, wine, other luxury goods found by archaeologists) luxury goods found by archaeologists)

Piracy and Brigandage Piracy and Brigandage

another major source for new slavesanother major source for new slaves 200 BCE pirates of Cilicia – conducted 200 BCE pirates of Cilicia – conducted

large scale kidnapping and trafficking large scale kidnapping and trafficking (Wiedemann # 106). (Wiedemann # 106).

Large slave market on island of Delos – Large slave market on island of Delos – Augustine in a letter (Augustine in a letter (Epistulae Epistulae 10) talks of 10) talks of

pirates along coast of North Africa raiding pirates along coast of North Africa raiding rural villages, murdering all the men, and rural villages, murdering all the men, and selling free women and children as slaves selling free women and children as slaves to itinerant slave dealers (to itinerant slave dealers (mangonesmangones) )

Augustine’s comments Augustine’s comments continuedcontinued

Some locals supplied pirates, story of a Some locals supplied pirates, story of a woman who traded in young girls from woman who traded in young girls from interior; interior;

Poor parents sold their children;Poor parents sold their children; One Christian sold his wife because he One Christian sold his wife because he

preferred the moneypreferred the money Christian communities tried to buy back as Christian communities tried to buy back as

many as possible, many as possible, While others tried to resell the released While others tried to resell the released

individuals back to the slave tradersindividuals back to the slave traders

Piracy and Brigandage in Piracy and Brigandage in Italy itselfItaly itself

Italy unsafe for travelers Italy unsafe for travelers Private slave prisons (Private slave prisons (ergastulaergastula) in ) in

country side country side travelers kidnappedtravelers kidnappedSee Wiedemann # 111, Suetonius, See Wiedemann # 111, Suetonius,

AugustusAugustus

Pliny, Ep. 6.25Pliny, Ep. 6.25 YOU send me Word, that YOU send me Word, that RobustusRobustus a a RomanRoman

Knight, of considerable Rank, took a Journey Knight, of considerable Rank, took a Journey with with Attilius ScaurusAttilius Scaurus, my Friend, as far as , my Friend, as far as OcriculumOcriculum, and then disappear'd. You desire me , and then disappear'd. You desire me to send for to send for ScaurusScaurus, and get some Information , and get some Information from him, in order to enquire about it. He shall from him, in order to enquire about it. He shall come hither, but I am much afraid it will be to come hither, but I am much afraid it will be to no Purpose. For I suspect, that something has no Purpose. For I suspect, that something has befallen befallen RobustusRobustus, like an Accident, that , like an Accident, that happen'd once to a Towns-man of mine, happen'd once to a Towns-man of mine, Metilius Metilius CrispusCrispus. I had procur'd him a Command in the . I had procur'd him a Command in the Army, and has presented him with 400000 Army, and has presented him with 400000 Sesterces for his Equipage and Conveniencies: Sesterces for his Equipage and Conveniencies:

…….continued.continued

Nor did I afterwards receive a Letter Nor did I afterwards receive a Letter from him, or any News of his Death. from him, or any News of his Death. It is doubtful whether he was cut off It is doubtful whether he was cut off by his own Servants, or with them: by his own Servants, or with them: Certain it is, that neither he nor his Certain it is, that neither he nor his Servants made their Appearance Servants made their Appearance afterwards. I wish we may not find afterwards. I wish we may not find the same Cafe in the same Cafe in RobustusRobustus; yet, let ; yet, let us send for us send for ScaurusScaurus..

The Slave Trade:The Slave Trade:Where to buy a slave in RomeWhere to buy a slave in Rome

Some could conveniently be bought Some could conveniently be bought in the Roman Forum near Temple of in the Roman Forum near Temple of CastorCastor

Upscale shops located near Saepta Upscale shops located near Saepta Julia Julia

Elite also used agents to acquire Elite also used agents to acquire slaves for them slaves for them

Who were the slave traders?Who were the slave traders?

Despised by elite – for unscrupulous Despised by elite – for unscrupulous business methodsbusiness methods

Some were ex-slaves themselvesSome were ex-slaves themselvesMany were itinerant – traveling Many were itinerant – traveling

throughout empire and beyond, often throughout empire and beyond, often following armiesfollowing armies

Traded with local tribal leaders at the Traded with local tribal leaders at the fringes and beyond Roman Empire in fringes and beyond Roman Empire in Britain, Germany, Black Sea, etc.,Britain, Germany, Black Sea, etc.,

Tombstone of a wealthy slave Tombstone of a wealthy slave tradertrader

Sale of slaveSale of slave

DiscussionDiscussion

Wiedemann # 108Wiedemann # 108