Analysis of Writings of Antiquity About Slavery and Estate Management

Many writers of antiquity, like Xenophon, Cato the Elder and others wrote about household and estate management. It is debateable whether wither writings can be used as a practical handbook which may have informed readers of how to run the estate and about slaves. An example of this may be writing on slavery and slave roles within the household.

Bryson, a roman writer, wrote about slaves in Oeconomica. He spoke about many factors including how to determine which kind of slave would be best for which job. In the Oeconomica Bryson he writes quite broadly about slavery. He begins by defines three types of slaves. He then informs readers of what makes a good or a bad slave. Bryson also discusses how to tell if a slave should or should not be purchased. He writes about the role of a slave within the household. Bryson tells readers of how a man should protect his servants as he does his limbs and of the appropriate way and time a slave should be punished. Bryson also tells of the best age and race requirements. He also adds that slaves need rest periods. Bodel highlights how slave do not really have protected leisure time. This may suggest the Bryson does not reflect roman views in his writings and maybe exaggerates his own opinions or how he would personally handle the situation. Bryson in his Oeconomica can be seen to be providing a guideline of slavery from how to assign the right tasks to the right person to how to know which slave to purchase as well as how to treat them best. This can easily be seen as a handbook, focusing specifically on the example of slavey. As a handbook exists to give information on a particular subject and can act as a sort of manual which is exactly what Bryson does by writing about slaves the way he does. It might have been perceived as a handbook for household and estate management as well as he clearly states how to handle such matters.

Xenophon, a Greek writer also about how he takes care of himself and how and when he uses his slave. In his Oeconomicus, Ischomachus and Socrates are in a discussion which is based around the household and they then bring up slaves. Ischomqchus speaks about how consistently working off meals and training themselves they will be more apt to survive. Ischomachus also speaks about how a slave is able to assist him in daily activities such as if he has “If there is nothing pressing to be done in town, my slave leads my horse to the farm and I make my walk by going there on foot”. He also speaks of how his slaves assist him on the farm when he is away, as he tells Socrates that “I'm not neglecting the matters you refer to, either; for I keep foremen on my farms”. This may be a reflection of Athenian society as it was common for Athenian citizens to not work under “conditions that were considered demeaning was key to Athens' democratic”. Kyrtatas points out how using slaves like this was very profitable for the masters and as they would not have to pay wages for free labours, a wage which would be much more than the maintenance of a slave.They then go on to speak about the requirements of qualified slave and what Ischomachus tries to tech his. They first speak about loyalty especially when the “master” is away as they represent them. He then speaks of how this is ensured by using rewards who share whatever abundance Ischomachus may have gained. Ischomachus also tells Socrates that he tries to teach them to be attentive and also speaks of how this is not possible with everyone, such as drunkards. Ischomachus tells Socrates, that he ensures this by commending the workers. But if they fail he insults them. Ischomachus speaks of how the masters have to set a good example when he says “I don't think I've yet found a bad master with good slaves”. Ischomachus then discusses the importance of the slaves knowing how to govern and how to make a person more obedient. He then discusses the clothes he gives the servants “reward the better workers with the superior articles and give the inferior ones to the less deserving”. Ischomachus then tells how a slave is prohibited from stealing and how he deals with this. Ischomachus, in Xenophon's Oeconomicus can be seen describing how a slave essentially fits into day to day life and tells Socrates of how he trains his slaves. Whether this can be seen as a practical handbook or not might be debatable. This is because while he is answering Socrates questions and taking about what makes a good servant it might just be viewed as a conversation rather than a something a person would look to for advice. This may reflect how Athenians treated their slaves and what the masters looked for but it may not exactly be a handbook or even intended to act as one.

In conclusion writings on household and estate management in antiquity can be used as practical handbooks but they may not be intended for that. As we see in Bryson's writing, his Oeconomica reads as a sort of handbook that gives advice on a wide range of topics surrounding slaves. But Xenophon's Oeconomicus may be looked upon as guidance it does not seem to cover a wide range of subjects like Bryson and is presented as a discussion of how to teach slaves.

Bibliography

• ‘In the Name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate, Who Is My Aid: The Book of Bryson, On the Man’s Management of His Estate.' 5-24.
• Bodel, John. 'Slave Labour and Roman Society.' The Cambridge World History of Slavery. Ed. Keith Bradley and Paul Cartledge. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2011. 311-36. The Cambridge World History of Slavery.
• Henderson, Jeffrey, E. C. Marchant, and O. J. Todd. Memorabilia Oeconomicus ; Symposium ; Apology. New Ed. Revised by Jeffrey Henderson.. ed. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2013. Loeb Classical Library; 168. Web.
• Kyrtatas, Dimitris J. 'Slavery and Economy in the Greek World. 'The Cambridge World History of Slavery. Ed. Keith Bradley and Paul Cartledge. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2011. 91-111. The Cambridge World History of Slavery.
• Porter, J. D. “Slavery and Athens” Economic Efflorescence: Mill Slavery As a Case Study. Mare Nostrum, vol. 10, nº 2, agosto de 2019, p. 25-50