Ancient history

What is a domestic slave in Anglo saxon times?

In Anglo-Saxon times, a domestic slave was an individual who was not free and was owned by another person. They were captured in battle or sold into slavery by their family, and were forced to work for their owner without pay. Domestic slaves were typically found in the households of the wealthy and powerful, where they performed various tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and running errands. They were also used as agricultural workers on large estates.

Anglo-Saxon society was divided into three main social classes: the nobility, the freemen, and the slaves. Domestic slaves were at the bottom of the social hierarchy and had few rights. They could be beaten, sold, or even killed by their owners. However, they were not considered to be property, and could sometimes gain their freedom by paying their owner a sum of money or by serving them for a period of time.

The number of domestic slaves in Anglo-Saxon England is not known, but it is thought to have been relatively small. However, they were an important part of the economy, and their labor helped to support the upper classes.