How could a wealthy Roman get a slave?
Slaves were sold at a slave market. A letter found from Roman London indicates that there was a slave market in the city. How much did a slave cost? The price of a slave depended on what they could do for their masters. A slave with a talent, skill or trade was more expensive especially if they could cook. Young men also cost more as they could work for their masters longer than an older slave. How many slaves were there? No-one is sure how many slaves existed in the Roman Empire. How many slaves did a family have? A wealthy Roman might have between 400 and 500 slaves. What was life like for a slave? Life was very hard for many slaves. In Roman law they were seen as property of their master. Slaves had no rights, they could be treated as good or as badly as their masters wished. Some slaves were treated brutally, whilst others led a good life with masters who looked after them well. What was a typical day for a slave like? A slave’s day began very early in the morning, often before sun
