Chapter 5 Society and Inequality

Q: Why do you think slavery was so much more prominent in Greco-Roman civilization than in India or
China?

Slavery was prominent from the beginning of time. I was shocked to learn in this class that slavery began during that Paleolithic era, and continued throughout history. This chapter in the book suggest the domestication of animals implemented the idea of slavery. I unfortunately kind of agree with that statement. As it does kind of give a template for slavery, domesticated animals do not resemble humans nor do they portray that humans too can be "domesticated animals". 

I believe social inequalities played a huge role in the progression of slavery. For example, Emperor Wu Di of China, established the academy that was used into the 20th century to teach and educate the young men of China during that time. Although this academy was really for those families who could afford an education for their son, it was possible to be sponsored and attend the academy. This opened many doors for even those considered to be lower on the social class scale. Even the peasants of the Chinese Empire often owned small portions of land in which they could raise multiple generations of family on. This seemed to be different from Roman societal classes.

We learn on page 204, that Greeks and Romans would often emancipate their slaves based on purchasing freedom, religious reasons, old age and various other reasons. I almost feel like this was more cruel. To take someones life away from them for so long, and then say okay you can have it back now that you're old and I don't want to care for you, is truly sad and infuriating. To answer the question simply I think slavery was more prominent in Greco-Roman civilization because people were slaves were seemingly no reason sometimes. In Indian society prisoners or criminals made up the slavery population. I think the fact that Greco-Roman civilizations would emancipate slaves, shows that they probably had an idea that slavery was dead wrong. Slaves really built up the economy for the Greco-Roman civilizations and I would assume this is the main reason as to why slavery was more prominent in these civilizations. For example Roman slaves could be used as prostitutes for high ranking officials, or they could be forced to manual labor and be put to work that way. Overall Greco-Roman societies had slaves to support economics and finances and this is why I believe slavery was more prominent in those Empires, than an India and China.

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