Throughout history - both ancient and modern - those bound in chains have fought to free themselves from their oppressors. As with most civilizations - Assyrian, Greek and even American - slaves in ancient Rome were not considered citizens, but property, providing labor, both skilled and unskilled, to the rest of society. Obviously, slave revolts, whether in Rome or elsewhere, provided a danger to all citizens, and while most of these uprisings were quickly suppressed, one revolt in the first century BCE caused enough concern for the Roman Senate that they eventually called upon two of their greatest generals to crush it. Over a two-year period, this “small” uprising, led by a one-time gladiator, initiated what would become known as the Third Servile War. This man's name was Spartacus.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original definition at https://www.worldhistory.org/spartacus/.
Join the Conversation
- If you've studied this topic, what would you add for other readers?
- Which part did you find most interesting, and why?
- What surprised you most in this definition?
Is there anything you'd like to ask about this definition? Ask away — and if you spot something that should be covered, that's useful to know too.