Bonded Labourers of Tamil Nadu from Sangam Era to the present. The Mankinds’ first social organisations must have been a communist society. The people shared whatever they could get from the nature whether it were fruits they gathered or the animals they hunted. In the next stage, they divided themselves into groups and they domesticated animals like cows, goats etc. Then they had to look for green pastures for their cattle. Even at the stage, they used whatever was available in nature but they did not know the means of production by exploiting nature. As the population increased, their need for food also increased. As a natural corollary, they began to fight among themselves for the sake of food sources. Their conflicts also centred around the using natural sources. Those who lost were simply killed. Women were taken away by the victorious groups. In the next stage, the males of the defeated group were not killed on the other hand, they were enslaved to work till the end of their times for the captors. The victorious group became the bosses of the slaves. The primitive communist society changed into the society of haves and have-nots, the class contradiction also began to emerge, and slave society came into existence. A slave was a person without any personal liberty and he had to work for a particular caste, family or organisation or a government. The slave might be there from birth, he might have been captured, or he might have been bought. A slave did not have any liberty to get away from slavery or any right to cease work or to get any wages for the work he had done. The slave was given frugal food to sustain his life. He was considered as a property of the owner. Slavery compelled the slave to work for the owner. This practice was prevalent in many countries. The slaves were bought and sold by the owners according to the owners’ whims and fancies. 1 enslaved black people as slaves. When they went to war with the From the available evidences, many of them engravings on Asian countries, they enslaved Jewish males, females and children. the stones reveal that slavery was prevalent even before Christ. The Their plight is graphically described in the old testament of the Bible. ancient communist society war conflict and clashes were inevitable. Many slaves worked till death in the copper mines. Only during the Earlier, the vanquished were killed. As time past, the need for more time of Patriarc Moses, the Jews became free and reached their labourers increased so the defeated were not killed but were enslaved. homeland. The history also shows some slaves were able to get good Women and children were not exempted. In a place near positions becuase of their hard work and ability and also sometimes Mesapatomia, an edict of King Hamurapi was discovered and he because of sheer luck. had given specific directions regarding dealing with slaves. Researchers fix the time of edict as 1792 BC. It is said in the edict Greece & Rome: Slavery was widely practised in Ancient that “those who steel others’ slaves will be killed. Those who killed Greece. Some were born as slaves. That is because their parents others’ slaves will have to compensate by handing over his own slaves. were slaves and hence as a ‘natural consequence’, their children This edict is known as ‘protection of slaves act’. Slavery was an were also slaves. Further abandoned children became slaves of the accepted social custom and women were need for labour and sex. finder or rescuer. Slaves were sold in the open market. Prisoners of When a slave became ‘useless’ either he was killed or was transported war became slaves. So in the above mentioned manner Greece was to a forsaken island. The countries like Egypt and Greece owe their flooded or crowded with slaves. For example in the great Peleponisian growth to the hard labour of slaves. War which is a war between City States of Greece, the defeated soldiers became slaves. Athenians soldiers who were captured were When we look at the ancient history of Egypt, we find they forced to work as slaves in the nickel mines of Syracusek. Thus, the not only enslaved the defeated but also bought slaves in the open slaves worked as domestic workers, labourers, farm workers, miners, market. Usually, the slaves were the property of the Pharoahs. The sailors and even salesmen in shops. Pharoahs usually gave away the salves as gifts to the favoured ones. When we examine the engravings of the period of Tutmas(BC 1479 Young handsome strong, timid slaves were sold for 10 minars to 1425) and Romeseus (BC 1279 - 1213) we understand how i.e.roughly 180 US Dollars of today. Old rebellious slaves were sold they enslaved soldiers in the battles. The Pharoahs are those who for a half minar i.e.roughly 9 US Dollars. When the number of slaves ruled ancient Egypt, they wore a crown in red and white. The two available for sale in the market increased, their prices also decreased colours indicated that they ruled upper and lower Egypt. The following the market principle when supply increases prices fall. On Egyptians considered the Pharoahs as the representatives of their an average, rich Greek families, were permitted to possess twenty Gods. slaves at a time. The owners have the right to name the slaves. The slaves were never permitted to have any name of their own and if This is what we find in the grave of a Captain of the Eighteen they try to have the name of their choice, it became a punishable King. Then we blundered Avaarise;I brought a male and few crime. In the market the slaves were labelled from the place where females; Barpoah gifted them to be as slaves. The Pharoahs usually they were procured or captured. Moreover the slaves did not have 2 3 the right to go to gymnasium or places of public utility. Athens which Volcano. From there he gave a proclamation for the freedom of is known as the cradle of democracy had the maximum number of slaves. slaves. The population of Athens was 21,000 whereas the number of slaves was 4,00,000. Very soon nearly a lakh of slaves joined his liberation force. Unfortunately, all the slaves were not trained soldiers like Spartacus. Once, there was a proposal in the Roman Senate that the They thought by sheer numbers they can conquer Roman cities and slaves should have distinctive uniform. It caused a great commotion live as free men. Initially, they won a few cities. But the Roman Empire and disturbance among the slave owners. They pointed out that if sent a very well disciplined Roman Legion under the able leadership the slaves were in uniform then they will immediately know that they of General Marcus Krasus. Spartacus and his liberation army was are a great majority and they will rebel against the Roman Empire. able to break through the advancing forces of Roman Army. Many of the slave owners had a deep-rooted fear regarding the Spartacus thought once they reach the seashore they can sail to Sicily. slaves, because, many of the slaves were former soldiers. They were But they could not get ships.They got between the deep sea and well built and strong. The slaves also rebelled against slavery now devilish Roman Army. Many of them were simply slaughtered. The and then. The most famous rebellion happened in BC 73 – 71 and it captured one were nailed on the cross on the way to Rome. But was lead by Spartacus. Generl Crosses was ‘generous enough’ to offer Spartacus to choose his own end. When Roman Empire grew in size, the number of slaves also increased. The slaves outnumbered free Romans by many times. Spartacus and his only son were taken to the Roman Circus. Spartacus was a former soldier who became a slave. When he was Circus is nothing but a huge arena where people assembled in galleries a soldier, he could not get along with his superior officers. So he and watched the martial sports. Even today, the ruin stands in Rome deserted Roman Army which is a highly punishable crime. He was and it is known as Coliseum. Crosses, the victorious General, gave captured by the Roman soldiers because he was a deserter. So the Spartacus the following option:- Spartacus and his son should fight Roman Government sold him as a slave. In Rome, slaves were unto death.The person who comes out to the battle alive will engaged in martial sports. These slaves were called gladiators. The not be given freedom but he will be crucified. gladiators were given very good food, comfortable lodging, wine and other drinks and a cash bonus, if they win competitions. After A free man who became a slave will have the experience of certain years of service as a gladiators, they will be given freedom freedom as well as the experience of slavery. Spartacus had only with a cash bounty to start a new life. But those who achieved such one son. He had enormous love and affection for him. He was ready a distinction were very few and very far between. Such ex-gladiators give up his life. But if he died his son would be tortured and crucified. were given land and Roman citizenship. Spartacus when he was He was unable to accept this. His son also had the same feelings. enslaved became a gladiator. Very soon, he became the principal of The fight commenced.