1. War and Conquest: Captives as Slaves
One of the most common ways in which people became slaves in ancient Rome was through war and conquest. As Rome expanded its territory through military campaigns, it captured large numbers of prisoners from the defeated peoples. These prisoners, often from conquered territories such as Gaul, Germania, Greece, or parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, were enslaved and brought back to Rome.
The practice of enslaving war captives was deeply ingrained in Roman military and cultural traditions. Once captured, these individuals would be sold at slave markets or used as laborers, gladiators, or servants. Some of these captives were highly skilled or educated, and they could serve in more specialized roles, such as teachers or artisans, while others would be forced into manual labor.
Roman generals and commanders often made considerable profits by selling slaves they captured during military campaigns, making the conquest of new territories a lucrative enterprise for both the empire and the individuals involved.
2. Slavery as a Result of Debt
Another way people became slaves in ancient Rome was through debt. In Roman society, individuals who could not repay their debts faced severe consequences. The most common method of dealing with unpaid debt was through nexum, a form of debt bondage. Under this system, a debtor could offer themselves or a family member as collateral in exchange for a loan. If the debt could not be repaid, the debtor or their family member could be forced into slavery.
In many cases, Roman citizens who were unable to repay their debts found themselves in a humiliating position of servitude. These individuals could be sold or forced to work for their creditors until the debt was considered repaid. While this practice was more common in the earlier Roman Republic, the laws around debt bondage became stricter over time, and by the Imperial period, it was largely replaced by more formal systems of taxation and punishment for debtors. shutdown123