The life of an slave wasn’t actually easy. Let’s discover five secret ancient Egyptian Slaves facts for kids.
Ancient Egyptian slaves were people who were owned by other people and forced to work for them without any pay or rights. They were considered property and had no legal rights. Some slaves were debt slaves, they were enslaved as a form of payment for unpaid debt. In ancient Egypt, slaves were used for many different tasks, including farming, construction, and domestic work. However, not all slaves were treated poorly. Some were even able to earn their freedom and become respected members of society.
Many ancient Egyptian slaves were captured during wars and brought back to Egypt to be sold in the slave markets. Some were also born into slavery, with their parents already being slaves. Some slaves were also criminals, prisoners of war and foreigners. Slaves came from different parts of the ancient world, including Nubia, Libya, and Syria. It was common for slaves to have children who were also considered slaves, which continued the system of slavery in ancient Egypt.
Slaves in ancient Egypt were used for a wide range of tasks, such as farming, building, mining, and working in households as cooks, cleaners, and even personal assistants. Some slaves worked in mines or quarries, where they were forced to extract precious stones and metals for their owners. Others were used in construction projects, such as building the pyramids or other monumental structures. Slaves were also used as domestic servants, working in households as cooks, cleaners, or personal attendants to their owners. They were also used in more skilled jobs, such as scribes, doctors, teachers, or musicians.
Ancient Egyptian slaves were not treated well, they were often subjected to harsh conditions, and were punished severely for disobeying their masters or attempting to escape. They had no legal protection and could be beaten, tortured or killed by their owners without consequence. They were not allowed to marry or own property.
Slavery was a brutal and dehumanizing institution, and slaves in ancient Egypt were often treated poorly. They were considered property, and their owners had complete control over their lives. However, not all slaves were treated equally, and some were able to earn their freedom and become respected members of society. Slaves who showed exceptional skills or loyalty to their owners could be granted their freedom or be given positions of authority within their household.
Some slaves were able to gain their freedom by working hard and earning enough money to buy their own freedom, which was known as “manumission”. Others were freed by their masters as a gift or in their will, as a form of reward for good service or loyalty. However, it was relatively rare for slaves to be freed and most lived their entire lives in slavery. Some slaves were also freed upon the death of their master, as a way to ensure that they would continue to serve them in the afterlife.
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