Transition To Manumission: The Master More Than The Slave

Rome defeated a kingdom, and then allowed the slaves to rise in the social hierarchy.

Cultures in the Americas were permanently affected by the mass importation of African slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries. In Spanish America (as opposed to the English colonies), a large number slaves were freed by manumission, a process in which a master granted legal freedom to an individual slave, and by being born to legally free black parents. This allowed for the native Africans and their descendants to sustain their traditional beliefs and customs; these influences can be seen today in the Caribbean and South America. However, many American slaves were never freed, and struggled to keep these traditions alive in an effort to stave off the depression of a harsh existence.

Many slaves were defeated enemies, criminals and debtors. Slaves took the jobs of freemen in the city, displaced them on the farm and serving in the army. In 146 B.C. 55,000 Carthaginians were captured and brought back from Africa as slaves. In the republic slaves were the personal property of their masters and did not accord any legal rights, and they were not allowed to vote or hold a political office. Under the Empire the lives of many slaves changes for the better as laws were passed that limited the cruelty of the owners. Freed slaves were called ‘Libertus’ and could own property. When Constantine was Emperor the life of slaves improved somewhat. A law was passed in AD 319 that made it illegal to kill slaves, and after 325 B.C., Roman citizens could not be placed in servitude if they were unable to pay their

The Roman Republic was created as a result of Rome’s early and tyrannical kings. This new democratic system was supposed to balance the power between two consuls and the senate in order to prevent any one person from controlling the entire population. It also aimed to ease relations between the separate classes by allowing slaves to purchase their freedom and by allowing anyone to move up in the class system from plebian to senator. The early phase of the Roman Republic was marked by successful foreign conquests, financial prosperity and a well-functioning government; however, as the years went by the republic slowly started to fall.

Both Romans and Americans are known for allowing their conquered to enjoy a certain amount of liberty. A less glorious similarity is the Roman and American social welfare systems. Straying from using the imagination and classical problem solving, both civilizations have expended their resources to quiet the cries of the hopeless, without building any hope for their unfortunate citizens. Roman law influenced much of the American legal system, especially in the area of criminal justice. America has followed in the footsteps of the Romans in many ways, for better or for worse.

How were blacks set free? Some bought their own freedom from their masters, but as time passed, this type of exchange became quite rare. Most became

As these slaves were treated as property they began to lose a lot of their individualism. In Platus’ play, written during the Roman Republic, there is a soliloquy of a slave talking about his chores. He will do the chores perfectly and if his master is not there he will administer them with even more care. The slave speaks with eager and willingness to execute the chores. He explains that he rather be diligent and do as he is told and maybe one day he will receive a reward. But, for now his reward is not getting a flogging, which is a whipping. “My obedience, I think, is such as is most for the profit of my back. And it surely does pay!” This slave knows that working laboriously is beneficial to him only to avoid getting punished. Working hard does not earn him anything, but at least this way he will not need to feel the pain of lashings. This fear of consequences keeps this slave from fighting for his rights. In fact, he does not understand that he deserves rights [Slavery in the Roman Republic].

The freedman occupied a complex and often problematic position in Roman society, situated above slaves and below freeborn citizens.

The Roman Empire was a slave owning society, one fourth of their population was made up of slaves. The Romans accrued slaves through piracy, trade, and warfare. Accounting for most of the labor force, slaves performed household tasks, and the grueling and tiresome work of mining and farming. Slavery in Rome was a way for them to assimilate new people into their society. Individuals could be released from slavery by either being bought out or after paying their debt to their owner (Ivanovitch, 1957: 26).

In Ancient Rome, The way society worked was much similar to America. The Roman social class is and has been very significant in the operational American social class. None of the Roman class’ was oppressed or enslaved rather they were split into two. Once the Romans defeated the Etruscans they went on to build an empire that would change the world. Their influence in today’s society is still very present. We still borrow ideas from them. They formed a government where they would elect people to represent for them, called a republic. This is still the foundation for government in most of today’s world. They formed a system of law that was completely ahead of it’s time so much so that it has become the base for many countries legal system today; one of these being The United States. The political system they built, coincidental caused a division between the Romans. Plebeians were the common people of Rome; the Patricians who were the ones of higher class could serve in the consul. This was the highest position in the senate. The Assembly was made up of Plebeians. They had gained a significant amount of importance when they were the ones given the power to elect Consuls. The Assembly head position was a tribune; he was the leader of the Assembly and had a lot of power. Then they developed the Law of Twelve Tables, a

Rome built on aristocratic landlords expanding out from city-states. Rome relied on slavery for their economic base in which a third of the population were slaves. Rome invented concrete and engineered things like aqueducts that brought water to parts of the city. Mechanisms for political integration in the roman empire were based on bureaucracy that was less complex than the Han dynasty and relied on local elites and middle class to control provinces that were less centralized. There was a greater emphasis on law codes and a common legal system. Monuments and triumphal processions played up the glory, stability, and civilization of the empire and its rulers which was considered an idealistic ideology. Rome also had a cult organized by deceased emperors from the past. They would use colonies to foster unity and integration throughout its empire by the means of colonies that were considered military outposts that were not intended for the use of population integration. Latin was encouraged to be learned throughout Rome, but it never took over the Greek language in the East since post

A republic, like Rome, moves at a maddeningly slow pace. Legislation is put through a system of checks and balances where rivals debate ad nauseum over proposed policies. In a perfect world, this ensures that only which is most beneficial for the state and her peoples becomes a reality. A Tyrant, however, can accomplish a great deal in only a short amount of time. A good leader, like Augustus, can propel his people forward unhindered by the chains of a republic. The Roman people, according to Tacitus: “prefered the security of the current regime to the dangers of old” (Yardley 2008, 3). Even if it lacked freedom, many were willing to submit to an empire if it meant stability and security.

Arthur Erickson said that, “Ancient Rome was as confident of the immutability of its world and the continual expansion and improvement of the human lot as we are today”. In Rome got two kinds of government, and there were Roman Empire and Roman Republic. Both of them had different structures to development on many aspects in Rome such as laws, equality and rights of life’s Roman where Rome wanted a democratic system. Although, it has helped later to now, in that time was a conflict where it created a war.

In “Manhood: The Elusive Goal”, Mark Gerzon argues that masculinity, or the "masculine code of conduct" is exemplified by smoking, drinking, and violence- acts that would be generally frowned upon in society. Mark Gerzon, attended Harvard University and was considered to be a best selling author by his senior year, due to his book "The Whole World is Watching: A Young Man Looks at Youth Dissent". Gerzon generally writes about topics dealing with men and masculinity in regard to modern day society. In "Manhood: The Elusive Goal", Gerzon reflects back on his own personal experience during his adolescent years, and how he wasn't considered to be masculine enough since he

Adding onto the point where slaves were put on the market like things, slaves were also discriminated due to their previous nationality. Both of these actions illustrate inhuman behaviour by the Ancient Romans. In addition to buying and selling slaves, there is one more option which tops off these poor choices. In Ancient Rome, one was also able to rent a slave. This is renting a human being. Renting tools or horses was ordinary but renting another person just exemplifies how Romans treated slaves as things, rather than people.