NationStates Jolt Archive

Roman slaves were treated as enslaved humans, the slaves in America were treated as posessed animals (No, I'm not saying the slaves were animals).

Roman slaves, when freed, were granted full Roman rights. They were able to gain citizenship, run for office, vote in elections, own other slaves, be treated to a fair trial, etc. Essentially, once freed their entire slave history went out the window.

American slaves, when freed (Which they rarely ever were), were still second class citizens. They couldn't gain citizenship, they couldn't vote, they couldn't run for office (kind of a given since they couldn't be citizens), they were treated barely above animals. Essentially, once a slave, always a slave.

This is just a small fact based post (just watched a movie of Roman gladiators and my mind is a bit stuck on it). This is not a pro-Roman slavery post, since it was still an abomination and wrong. This is not an anti-America post, since America (as it exists now) does not have slaves. This is a just a post stating the difference between two past evils.

its cause it wasnt a racial issue in rome, unlike it was here

Okay thank you! Although you know that our slavery came from Spain? So you should be talking about Spain instead

I (sadly) am actually quite ignorant of American Continent slavery prior to the 1800's. That's why I only mentioned American and not the other European nations who had slavery.

I (sadly) am actually quite ignorant of American Continent slavery prior to the 1800's. That's why I only mentioned American and not the other European nations who had slavery.

Can't blame ya. Seeing as how we're seen as the only nation who had slavery too many times by many ignorants

I (sadly) am actually quite ignorant of American Continent slavery prior to the 1800's. That's why I only mentioned American and not the other European nations who had slavery. also, portugal, and many south american countries depended on slavery far more than the US

I know. I do know that other nations had slavery, I'm just not very informed on their slavery (I know dates, places, and participants in American slave history)

I know. I do know that other nations had slavery, I'm just not very informed on their slavery (I know dates, places, and participants in American slave history) are you american? also, after the civil war a black man with a white woman as his running mate attemted to run for the presidency

its cause it wasnt a racial issue in rome, unlike it was here
Yes, for the Romans, slaves were an economic reward of conquest, while for the Americans, they were a lesser variety of human being. The Romans had a lot less ideological dogma tied up in it.

Roman slaves, when freed, were granted full Roman rights.

In some ways it could be a much better life as the slave of a kindly master or mistress than as a poor free man or woman. Though being unable to testify in court unless you'd been tortured can't have been any fun...

Actually, I didn't realise until yesterday when I read Lindsey Davis' The Jupiter Myth that gladiators were regarded as utterly at the bottom of the Roman social strata, below even prostitutes and slaves. They weren't allowed to be buried even in the cemeteries outside the city walls.

Yes, I am American. I am not proud of certain parts of Americas past, but I feel no shame for living here.

Actually, I didn't realise until yesterday when I read Lindsey Davis' The Jupiter Myth that gladiators were regarded as utterly at the bottom of the Roman social strata, below even prostitutes and slaves. They weren't allowed to be buried even in the cemeteries outside the city walls.

Gladiators were pretty darn low on the totem pole

Yes, I am American. I am not proud of certain parts of Americas past, but I feel no shame for living here.

AMEN!

Roman slaves = White
American slaves = Black