Who were the slaves in Athens?

Who were the slaves in Athens?

The Athenian slaves belonged to two groups. They were either born into slave families or were enslaved after they were captured in wars. Q: How did people become slaves in ancient Greece? People became slaves in ancient Greece after they were captured in wars.

What roles did slaves play in Sparta and Athens?

Spartans did not trade, and they relied on slaves and non citizens to produce goods. Helot slaves had to give most of the food they grew to Sparta. Slaves fought in wars and farmed to produce food for Sparta. The main slaves were called helots.

Why did Sparta and Athens rely on slaves?

Because Spartan men were expected to serve in the army until the age of 60, Sparta had to rely on slaves and noncitizens to produce the goods it lacked. Conquered villagers became slaves, called helots. The helots were allowed to live in their own villages, but they had to give much of the food they grew to Sparta.

What percentage of ancient Athens were slaves?

Historians aren’t sure exactly how many slaves the Greeks owned, but they usually estimate that between 30 and 40 percent of the population were slaves.

What percentage of Spartans were slaves?

Historians aren’t sure exactly how many slaves the Greeks owned, but they usually estimate that between 30 and 40 percent of the population were slaves. Even the poorest families owned at least one slave with some wealthy families owning hundreds.

Did Athens have slaves?

Slaves were the lowest class in Athenian society, but according to many contemporary accounts they were far less harshly treated than in most other Greek cities. Lowest of all slaves were those who worked in the nearby Laurium silver mines – where most quickly perished.

What percent of ancient Athens were slaves?

Did ancient Athens have slaves?

Was slavery common in ancient Athens?

Slavery was an accepted practice in ancient Greece, as in other societies of the time. Athens had the largest slave population, with as many as 80,000 in the 5th and 6th centuries BC, with an average of three or four slaves per household, except in poor families.