Spartacus and the Slave WarsRead On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet.Spartacus has passed into legend as an enduring symbol of righteousness in his noble battle for the freedom of man. This transcendent icon did not appear from the aether and had plenty of inspiration from the brave and often forgotten figures that stood before him. The actions of Spartacus and his … before him. The actions of Spartacus and his rebellion against the Roman Republic offer a unique look into the details of commercial slavery in Rome, and its long-lasting effects on the evolution of a nation.
Inside you will read about…
✓ The Roman Acquisition of Slaves
✓ Life as a Roman Slave
✓ Runaway Slaves and the Stirrings of Rebellion
✓ The First and Second Servile Wars
✓ The Mysterious Origins of Spartacus
✓ Spartacus Leads an Army
✓ A Rebellion Defeated
And much more!
This book will take you through the Servile Wars, also known as the Slave Wars, which were a series of slave rebellions over a 60-year period of the Roman Republic’s history. Occurring in relatively quick succession, each Servile War increased in strength and fervor, until Spartacus and his allies nearly managed to bring the Republic to its knees.more
The term slavery is, in itself, oppressive. Almost always, slaves are subjected to unthinkable sufferings under their masters. It’s no surprise, therefore, that when given the chance, these bondservants resort to rebellion. In fact, one of the greatest revolts in history is recorded in the book, ‘Spartacus and the Slave Wars’.
Spartacus was a popular name on both the silver screen and television. In 1960, a film about him was produced in the United States. And, in 2010 – 2013 a television series was aired in the US, New Zealand, and Australia.
But, who was Spartacus?
Behind the character projected in film and television, Spartacus was a real person. He was a man from Thrace. Although his existence was shrouded in mystery, he lived during the time of the Roman Republic. That was centuries before the Anno Domini.
The Caste System
Spartacus and the Slave Wars looks back to the history of ancient Rome. That was when the government system was called the Roman Republic. During this period, the social structure was characterized by a complex caste system. Each resident of the land belonged to a certain social stratum. The most powerful Roman citizen was called Cives Romani, while the lowest in the strata is the slave. Non-Roman-born people were either granted or denied citizenship and rights, depending on several factors. A person may also be degraded to a slave for some reason.
The Roman elite acquired many slaves. These bondservants were not given any protection or privilege in society. Worse, they did not possess legal personhood, at all.
The Slave Wars
The strict rules and regulations in Rome reduced many people to slavery. Slaves under the Roman Republic were subjected to unthinkable sufferings. For one, they were made to wear a metal collar with engraved names of their owners. Those without collars were tattoed in highly visible parts of their body, such as the forehead.
Due to severe oppression, the slaves decided to organize themselves. And so, a series ot revolts occurred starting in 135 B.C. The First Servile War was led by Eunus, a slave from Syria. While the second rebellion was led by Salvius.
After the failure of the two uprisings, the slaves once again bonded together. Initially, they chose three gladiators to lead them. The three leaders were Crixus, Oenomaus of Gaul, and Spartacus. It was under Spartacus’ leadership that the slaves made a mark in Roman history.
Follow the details of how the slaves organized themselves and fought the well-equipped Roman soldiers of the time. Read Spartacus and the Slave Wars and know more about the legendary man.
Spartacus and the Slave Wars: The Book
Spartacus and the Slave Wars is an interesting and informative read. The book presents great information about how the slaves took the courage to rebel against an oppressive regime. It’s also interesting to know how the Third Servile War became the catalyst for change in the treatment of slaves.
I commend Hourly History for producing this concise history of the slave wars. Overall, I give Spartacus and the Slave Wars a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this book to students, History teachers, and readers of any age group. There are several things to learn from this book.
NOTE: The above review is also found at The Catalyst.