Famous Spartacus
The Great Slave Revolt!
Background Info:
- Romans relied heavily on slave labor.
- Slaves helped out with the farming and were part of the family household.
- Greek slaves were tutors, musicians, doctors and artists; but all slaves helped in the household.
- Slaves also built roads, aqueducts, and other structures.
Causes of the slave revolt.
- Their conditions were not good.
- They may be part of the family household but many were not treated well.
- One Roman writer said it was easier and cheaper to work the slaves to death rather than treat them well and keep them healthy.
Spartacus' Slave Revolt
Escape
Spartacus escaped with 80 other gladiators and a wagon full of knives and weapons. His revolt consisted of a total of 70,000 slaves.
Battles
He defeated many Roman armies. During the battles Spartacus continued to free slaves in the countryside and collect necessities his army needed to stay alive.
Death
Spartacus was eventually trapped between two armies that had better equipment than he did. He was killed in 71 BC. After the death of Spartacus the Romans crucified 6,000 of his followers.
Results:
- Freed thousands of slaves
- Died because he tried to do something good like many other people
- The slave result did not do much impact