The acquiring of slaves through conquest was common practice among all the civilizations of the ancient world and Rome was no exception, according to The Illustrated History of the Roman Empire.
Julius Caesar, having captured a town in Gaul, sold on the spot the entire population of a district of the place to the salve traders who accompanied his army. Once all were counted the slavers walked away with no less than 53, 000 people.
Up to the days of Augustus, a marriage between a slave needed not be recognized by its master and enjoyed no protection in law. The children of such a couple would be born as slaves, Roman history experts state.
A slave who ran away would face branding or possibly even death. The treatment of slaves was totally in the hands of the owner, and usually varied according to their abilities, Roman historians state.
Some slaves could buy their freedom. This principle, which became fairly widespread, consisted of allowing a slave to have a small ‘part-time job’ selling wares or services.
“The profits would be his to keep (the peculium). And in time he could purchase his freedom. But this system was far from being pure kindheartedness on part of the owners. Like this an old slave might buy his freedom, allowing his master to buy a new young slave with the money. Hence the master didn’t lose his investment with the slave’s eventual death,” according to Roman historians.
For More Information on these Ancient Roman facts and more go to The Illustrated History of the Roman Empire.