Role Of Slavery In Ancient Greek Society

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Register to read the introduction… The principal use of slaves was in agriculture, the foundation of the Greek economy. Some landowners might own one or even two slaves, just for themselves. It is certain that rural slavery was very common in Athens. Slaves were not just used in agriculture, they were also used in mines and quarries (as mentioned before). In mines and quarries, slave labour was prevalent, with fond large slave populations often leased out by rich private citizens. The strategos Nicias leased a thousand slaves to the silver mines of laurium in Attica; Hipponicos, 600; and Philomides, 300. They were also used as craftsmen and tradespersons. The slave population was greatest in workshops: the shield factory of Lysias employed 120 slaves, and the father of Demosthenes owned 32 cutlers and 20 bedmakers. Slaves were used in agriculture, mines and quarries, as craftsmen and tradespersons, and also employed in the home. The domestics main role was to stand in for his master at his trade and to accompany him on trips. The female slave carried out domestic tasks, in particular bread baking and textile making. Therefore, slaves had a huge impact on Greek society, and could be found working in agriculture, as craftsmen and tradespersons, in mines and quarries, or in the home as a domestic …show more content…
Slaves had many different ways they became involved in slavery, such as through war, being born into slavery, being abandoned as a child, or through financial debt. They also endured many struggles and harmful conditions. Conditions like strict limitations on what they could and could not do, whether it be attending religious services, or even voting and also, working in unsafe mines like the Laureion, or working in mines that contained lead, thus leaving the slaves that worked there with lead positioning, and later than dying. Slaves also had many uses in Greek society, like in agriculture, in mines and quarries, as craftsmen and tradespersons, and also in the home. Without slavery, and the commitment and hard work they showed and performed, the citizens of ancient Greece would have struggled and would of been very unstable. The people relied on their slaves for numerous jobs and tasks, no other person would be willing to do, especially for such little of a reward, or even no reward at all. It is hard to imagine how the slaves of ancient Greece must of felt with the circumstances and conditions they were faced with. No person should have to endure such pain, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Yet, the people in slavery knew they could do nothing about it, so they

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