Roman Slavery in London: "Fortunata, The Slave of a Slave" - Michael Marshall

TL;DR

A Roman wooden writing tablet with inscriptions provides important insights into Roman London's use of writing for legal arrangements and business, as well as the presence and treatment of slaves in the city.

Transcript

so this is an altogether different um type of object from the city this is a rather wonderful Discovery some years old now um a Roman writing tablet made out of wood it would had wax um filling the central recess and into there was into the wax would have been ins sized the writing here's the original here's a a kind of a mocked up version with the... Read More

Key Insights

• ✍️ The Roman wooden writing tablet reveals the use of writing in legal arrangements and business in Roman London.
• 🥳 Slavery played a significant role in London's history from its early days, with some slaves having higher status and trustworthiness.
• 🤑 The tablet provides insights into the origins of slaves in London and the amount of money spent on them.
• ✍️ The presence of numerous wooden writing tablets in Roman London highlights the importance of writing and literacy in the city.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the significance of the Roman wooden writing tablet discovery?

The discovery of the wooden writing tablet provides valuable insights into the use of writing in Roman London for legal and business purposes, highlighting the importance of literacy and documentation in the city.

Q: What does the tablet reveal about the slave trade in Roman London?

The tablet describes the sale of a slave named Fortunata and provides details about the amount of money spent on her, her origin from Gaul, and the conditions under which slaves lived in the city.

Q: What does the tablet tell us about the status of slaves in Roman London?

The tablet indicates that some slaves in Roman London had higher social standing, as Fortunata was being bought by the slave of a slave. However, archaeological findings suggest that most slaves lived in appalling conditions with limited opportunities for advancement.

Q: How does the tablet emphasize the importance of writing in Roman London?

The presence of over 500 surviving wooden writing tablets in Roman London indicates that writing was extensively used in the city for various purposes, including business transactions. The use of writing was a tool of power and reflected the importance of literacy in the society.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A well-preserved Roman wooden writing tablet, made with wax filling, was discovered, providing valuable information about Roman London.

• The tablet includes a legal document describing the sale of a slave named Fortunata, revealing details about the use of writing in legal and business contexts in the city.

• It also sheds light on the origin of slaves in London, the value of slaves, and the different circumstances in which they lived.