This episode takes you inside the slave markets of the Roman Empire, where human lives were bought and sold as casually as goods at a marketplace. From young Greek boys trained in reading and writing to Thracian farmhands and Syrian women valued for their beauty, every person had a price — and those prices tell us a lot about Roman society, economy, and culture.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

-- How Roman slave markets worked and why the Forum Boarium in Rome became the heart of the trade

-- Real examples of slave prices preserved in historical records and contracts

-- Why certain groups — like educated Greek slaves, skilled craftsmen, and entertainers — were worth far more than unskilled laborers

-- The shocking differences between the cost of children, women, and men on the auction block

-- How Roman buyers evaluated slaves: age, origin, skills, health, and even physical appearance

-- The paperwork behind every sale, including contracts, receipts, and guarantees

-- How historians calculate what Roman prices (measured in denarii and sesterces) would mean in modern money

-- The economic and social impact of slavery on Rome — from agriculture and construction to households and entertainment

Slavery was not just a feature of Rome — it was the backbone of its empire. Millions of men, women, and children were enslaved, powering the economy and shaping daily life. Understanding how slaves were valued and traded opens a window into one of the darkest but most essential aspects of Roman civilization.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know not only the average cost of a slave in Ancient Rome, but also how these transactions reveal the harsh realities of human exploitation in the ancient world.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/g0A_OxIX338

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🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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