Exam Flashcards
(148 cards)
What are the constituents of the spartan polis? What are their roles?
- Spartiates - citizens, only job is to prepare for war.
- Periokoi - from the first expansion. Were the enslaved population from Messenia, were master craftspeople. Ran businesses, traded. Not allowed to participate in politics but were expected to serve in army (hoplites).
- Helots - enslaved from the second Spartan expansion. Expected to take care of agriculture, had no rights. If belonged to the state, the enslaved would be “leased” out for whatever purpose. Could change status by volunteering for light infantry, would gain rights by doing so.
What are three key notes made about the women of Sparta (from unreliable sources)?
- Not allowed to participate in politics
- Women were expected to engage in a fitness regime until they were married
- ALLOWED TO OWN PROPERTY (could inherit through the passing of their father)
What claim did Athens make regarding the women of Sparta? Why did they make this claim?
They were immodest. Believed so because Spartan women were allowed to engage in fitness.
What was Aristotle’s argument regarding slavery?
Aristotle argued that some people were naturally meant to be enslaved; believed that these people were irrational with their body ruling over their mind so they must be enslaved for their own protection.
What are the defining traits of the enslaved?
- Subjection to absolute power. - anything could be done to an enslaved person.
- Natal Alienation - the enslaved would have total separation from their existing family as well as their “future” family (not allowed to start a family as they have no power)
- Utter dishonor - no bodily autonomy, could be inspected for “defects” out in the open, nude for everyone to see.
How were enslaved individuals acquired?
- Born into slavery through enslaved mothers
- Bought/Traded (specifically from the north and the east)
- War (through defeating a city, the citizens could be enslaved)
- Kidnapping by land/sea
What were the two major hubs for buying and selling enslaved people?
- Aegina
- During the Hellenistic period, Delos became a major hub
The seller of an enslaved individual was expected to disclose what?
Any hidden “defects”, such as if the enslaved has seizures, any health issues etc.. anything that would impair their ability to work.
What were the four traits of an enslaved person that would consider them to be more valuable?
- Youth - if they were young, you could get more work done from them over time.
- Strength - if they were strong, they could lift heavier things.
- Beauty - if they were beautiful, it would contribute to the status of the enslaver.
- Specialized skills - if the enslaved already had specialized skills that they could perform, they would be purchased for more money.
What was the average cost of an enslaved person in drachmae? In CAD?
179 Drachma, 32 220 cad.
List the 5 domains of an enslaved person.
- Mining
- Agriculture
- Craftwork/Trades
- Domestic
- Sex work
Describe some aspects of an enslaved person working in the mines.
-It was considered to be a mindless, dangerous job.
-Life expectancy was very low in this field
-Children were a premium for this work because they are small and could fit easily into the tunnels that were mined
-Jobs within mining consisted of digging shafts, carrying ore to the surface as well as washing the ore.
Describe some aspects of an enslaved person working in agriculture.
It was a seasonal position and because of this, farmers with small plots of land would lease enslaved people for part time labor.
Describe some aspects of an enslaved person working in craftwork or trades.
1.A Metic could gain extra income through buying an enslaved person, training them and then working alongside them.
***Wealthier citizens would not work alongside the enslaved.
2.Highly skilled enslaved people may be granted certain privileges (could live independently if a certain amount of money was regularly given to the enslaver, could marry/start a family)
Describe some aspects of an enslaved person performing domestic services.
-Usually performed by women (among the wealthy, sometimes the enslaved person would have more freedom than the woman of the household)
-Perform duties such as nursing, weaving, childcare, cleaning, fetching water.
-The enslaved person could also gain the position of “Paedagogue” where they would be entrusted with the education of young children.
Describe some aspects of an enslaved person working in the sex trade.
-Women were found in brothels, men were found in cubicles or would meet in graveyards.
-Freedom could be purchased but there were few alternative ways of earning income (they could return to sex work or men also had the option of becoming a sex trafficker)
What are the three types of well known jobs in sex work?
- Auletrides - flute girls, depicted naked and playing an aulos. Entertained at symposia or provided music for religious festivals.
- Hetairai - companions, could be a companion for a very long time. These women lived independently and could purchase their freedom. They were also well educated, skilled socially and were the most expensive type of sex worker to purchase.
- Pallake - long term companion, acted as a concubine living with a man as though you are husband and wife.
What were three domains of work for public slaves?
- Enslaved bureaucracy - These enslaved individuals were literate, numerate highly skilled. Worked as secretaries and accountants that ensured the smooth operation of government (especially important in Athens; lottery system for political position). Responsible for keeping detailed records of public contracts, confiscated property, rents from public lands and managing currency.
- Scythian Archers - acted as a police force, security for public events, guards at jails as well as executioners.
- Other Public slaves would maintain civic infrastructure, building, repairing, cleaning roads, maintaining public sanctuaries as well as other spaces.
What were the two primary punishments used on enslaved individuals?
- Violent/Physical - whippings, beatings etc.
- Deprivations - food, shelter, clothing etc.
What are examples of rewards that enslaved individuals could receive? Why were gifts sometimes a bad thing?
-Could receive better food, clothing as well as the privilege of starting a family.
-By being given things and privileges, the enslaver would be able to take more away from the enslaved.
What was an enslavers ultimate tool of coercion?
Allowing the enslaved to believe that if they behaved a certain way then they could be freed.
If an enslaved person was freed (in Athens), how would their status change? What was a stipulation regarding freedom?
If an enslaved person was freed, they would receive the status of a metic and would be sponsored by their previous enslaver.
Once the status changed to Metic, –they would granted the right of getting married, allowed to start a family and earn an income.
BUT
-they would often still owe obligations to their previous master; sometimes being freed would have an explicit contract of ongoing service.
Describe eight ways the Greeks would come into contact with Non-Greeks.
- Through violence (war, capturing slaves)
- Trade (the creation of trading posts; Athens exported olive oil, imported grain and timber)
- Raids and piracy
- Migration (negative - forced to migrate, 1200-1000 B.C & positive - a sign of flourishing and not having enough space, 800 - 450 B.C)
- Diplomacy (alliances could drag multiple Greek states into war)
- Forced deportation (a conquered state might be deported; Miletus was deported to Mesopotamia)
- Exile (Hippias was exiled and he moved to Persia)
- Employment (specialized skills, musicians, medical practitioners, MERCENARIES -were hired by Babylonian and Persian kings often)
What did the Greeks believe to be the center of the world?
Delphi. They believed that the further out you went, the more bizarre the world became.