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In many modern books written about Ancient Rome and its people, The Romans are often portrayed as brutal and unforgiving people who enjoy violence and though it is amusing to see people being injured and killed to the point of obsession. It is my goal to establish whether this classification is justified or if it is simply an exaggeration of what a While it is known that in Rome there were gladiator fights, public beatings and slavery was legal and common. It is also important to understand just how advanced the Romans were. The Longman Dictonary of the English Language Defines civilized as of or being peoples of a nation in a state of civilization. I think that by this definition, the Romans were civilized, the educated being able to write and detailed records being kept by The Romans also had written laws and government, including an assembly for the poorer classes. In fact, Their system of law was actually quite advanced (even if it was designed to help the rich).
The idea was accepted that a mans intentions ought to be taken into account, and there was less importance attached to what he did and what he meant to do. The next thing to become established was the notion that all men must be treated equally. This way of thinking was very advanced and not barbaric or uncivilized at all, in fact the same notion that all men should be treated equally was not established in America and other countries for many years to come. It is know common knowledge that, in Ancient Rome, people often attended and enjoyed gladiator fights to the death, wild beast hunts, naval battles and chariot racing, all of which often had religious origins. During the reign of Caesar, thousands of men and animals were butchered just to make a Roman holiday. The Romans Also enjoyed pantomimes and plays which too were often very violent in nature.
It was not uncommon for a condemned criminal to be executed [on stage] as part of the play. Contemporary sources say that it is often portrayed that slaves were treated more harshly than was actually the case. Slaves in Rome actually did have some privileges. It is clear that slaves owned land, property, ships, interests in business concerns, even slaves of their own, and that their rights were protected by law.
In most cases, slaves were citizens of conquered lands who had been spared and put into slavery instead of being executed. This in itself was a privilege. Often slaves were trained by their masters in a craft, giving them skills and again benefiting them. For a man from a backward race might be brought within the pale of civilization, educated and trained in a craft or profession, and turned into a useful member of society.
Although this extract is clearly written by someone not a slave, it proves that a slave may learn a lot and actually benefit from slavery. In fact, Station of Petronius, who was once a slave actually said Thanks heavens for slavery, it made me what you see today. Although this only account of one man, it shows that at least some people actually recognized the benefits that slavery On the other hand, some slaves masters treated their slaves very poorly. In the eyes of the Roman law, a slave was the absolute property of his master and he could inflict any kind of punishment on his that he chose and beating, torture, and the murder of slaves was common, and some slaves lived in constant fear of their masters.
Often masters would attack their slaves for the most minor of reasons, and often because they wanted to take their anger out. Farm slaves often toiled in chain gangs, living like animals and in a constant fear of the whip or the cross. It was common in criminal cases for slaves evidence to be given under torture, and the law of the Imperial age was explicit on how to These poor, undersized slaves. Their skin was black and blue with bruises, their backs covered with cuts from the whip. They were covered with rags, not clothes, and it was hardly enough to make them decent.
They had been branded on the forehead and half of their hair was shaved off. On their legs they wore iron chains. This was the description of the harsh conditions at a flour mill, written by Apuleius. Unfortunately, many slaves were treated very badly but there were many masters that treated their slaves well and sometimes even respected their slaves.
These particular slaves were often more talented at a particular craft than their master. Many slaves were often released by their masters. It was discovered that, the nearer the lot of a slave approached a free man, the more useful he was. This realization helped slaves invariably. Although much of the evidence portrays the Romans as brutal, unforgiving and obsessed with violence, we must look at exactly why this is though. When writers try to prove that the Roman were obsessed with violence, they often refer to the gladiator fights, chariot races, wild beast hunts, and mostly the keeping of slaves.
However, when you look at this list of entertainment, you see that they are all similar to things that are being done today. For example, boxing, although the rules are more stringent and the boxers dont fight to the death, they do beat each other, causing long-term damage to both. This isnt all that different from gladiator fights! Chariot racing is very similar to NASCAR racing. As for the wild beast hunts, at least those animals had a sporting chance. Today hunters are paying fees to hunt drugged animals in confined parks.
Needless to say that slavery continued well into the 19 th Century. Although the Romans watch these events to see violence and death. The same can be said for all of those people who slow down at an automobile accident to see if you can see any blood. Therefor, the Romans were no more violent as a society than our own. We have the same sort of entertainment and enjoy the same violent things. I think that is unfair to say that the Romans were obsessed with violence when the American people do the same Bibliography: Work Cited P Martin & R Pulley, The Roman World: From Republic to Empire, Cambridge University Press, England, 1992 KR Bradley, Slavery and Rebellion in the Roman World, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana, USA, 1989 Longman Dictionary if the English Languages, WM Clowes Ltd. , Becomes & London, England, 1984 REC Burrell, The Romans and Their World, A.
Wheaton & Co. , Exeter, England, 1976 RH Barrow, The Romans, Penguin Books, Ltd. , Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England, 1976 G. Alfoldy, The Social History of Rome, The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 1991
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