Ancient history

What Roman slaves do?

Roman slaves could do a great many things. However, their actual lives and their work depended mostly on the wealth and means of their owners.

Urban slaves:

Many slaves served as domestic servants and craftsmen in the cities.

- Domestic slaves were responsible for cleaning, cooking, serving food and drinks, and taking care of children and the elderly.

- Craftsmen and artificers worked on all types of goods from food to clothing, metalware and furniture.

- Educated slaves often served as teachers, accountants, secretaries, and physicians.

Rural slaves:

- Agricultural slaves worked on their owners’ estates in the countryside, growing crops, tending animals, and maintaining buildings and equipment.

- Overseers and managers (vilici) made certain the other slaves carried out their tasks in a reasonable amount of time.

- Slave drivers (bucarii) were responsible for directing agricultural slaves and ensured that the estate owners made money while keeping labor costs down.

Slaves of the state:

- Slaves of the state worked in the Emperor’s household and were employed in government bureaucracies, public works projects, transportation, and mining operations.

- State slaves were used to maintain roads and bridges, as firefighters and police, and as soldiers and rowers in navy fleets.

- Prisoners of war also could become slaves of the state. Those who showed talent often were used in the imperial bureaucracy or as messengers and couriers.

Imperial slaves:

- The Emperor often had his own slaves who maintained imperial households and served as courtiers and guards.

- Imperial slaves were in charge of the daily needs of the imperial family and were responsible for the palace’s maintenance.

- They were part of the imperial household, and therefore held a higher social status than other slaves.