answersLogoWhite

0

No, they were not. Christianity and Islam have been fairly unique among religions in the history of civilization in their efforts to convert the peoples they subjected to their own 'true' religion. The Romans - like the ancient Greeks before them - saw their gods as beings you had to placate or have them work in your favor through public offerings, but who exercised no influence over people's minds or morals. Even families' household gods that they venerated at small altars in their own homes were seen as no more than protectors, not moral or religious guides. Greek and Roman gods' own morals were nothing to write home about and nobody cared about that. That is not to say that the Romans had no sense of right and wrong, but they never saw their religion as a guideline for that. Their guides were tradition and in some cases, the thoughts of philosophic schools.

So Romans' attitude to people with other religions was very open, mixed with a certain curiosity whether a foreign god might be any good or even better than their own for protection or good luck - and if they thought he was, Romans had no problem even with temples being erected for those gods in de middle of Rome itself. Only in the few instances where foreign religions were a reason to resist Roman rule, Romans set out to forbid or destroy that religion - but even then, they never considered forcible conversion to their own beliefs. So a slave was left alone with his beliefs as long as these did not conflict with putting in a hard day's work. Clever slaves who rose up in the ranks sometimes embraced the Roman gods and beliefs, just to better fit in with their master and surroundings.

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about General History

What religion did the slaves have and did they follow there religion?

The slaves within the boundaries of the Roman empire had the same religion as the Roman citizens. Slavery was a social class, and the lowest on the ladder. Therefore, being a social class, they would have been influenced culturally the same way as citizens. Slaves were not citizens, but followed what the citizens did. The religion of the Roman empire was paganism, therefore the slaves were as well pagans. The only exception would be people from distant lands who were captured and forced to be slaves; in Asia Minor there would have been Christians and Jews, and those religions spread to the Roman empire; people of all social standings--from slaves to aristocrats--would have converted. But, basically, what I'm trying to say, is that the slaves themselves did not have their own religion.


What year were slaves forced to fight in the roman colosseum?

Slaves were forced to fight in the Roman Colosseum primarily during the period of the Roman Empire, which began in 27 BCE and lasted until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE. The practice of using gladiators, many of whom were slaves or prisoners of war, became particularly popular in the 1st century CE. Gladiatorial games were a significant form of entertainment in ancient Rome, with evidence of such events occurring as early as the 3rd century BCE.


Who forced the last Roman Emperor in the west to abdicate?

Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.


What did the eastern half of the Roman Empire convert to?

The Emperor Constantine, who was the ruler of the eastern empire, converted to Christianity and made it the state religion. This began the Holy Roman Empire.


What is the dominant religion in ancient roman?

The dominant religion in the Roman Empire was the Roman religion until Christianity became the dominant religion.

Related Questions

What religion did the slaves have and did they follow there religion?

The slaves within the boundaries of the Roman empire had the same religion as the Roman citizens. Slavery was a social class, and the lowest on the ladder. Therefore, being a social class, they would have been influenced culturally the same way as citizens. Slaves were not citizens, but followed what the citizens did. The religion of the Roman empire was paganism, therefore the slaves were as well pagans. The only exception would be people from distant lands who were captured and forced to be slaves; in Asia Minor there would have been Christians and Jews, and those religions spread to the Roman empire; people of all social standings--from slaves to aristocrats--would have converted. But, basically, what I'm trying to say, is that the slaves themselves did not have their own religion.


What religion were the Aztec's forced to convert to?

The Aztecs were forced to convert to Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, by Spanish conquistadors during the colonization of Mesoamerica in the 16th century. This conversion was part of the broader process of cultural assimilation and colonization imposed by the Spanish to assert dominance over the indigenous population.


How did christianity become the religion of the roman empire?

Christianity was forced upon the people of the Roman empire by the emperor Theodosius I in 380 AD.


Who traveled to America to convert the American idians to Catholic religion?

Spaniards, Roman Catholics


In the roman times did the richer people pay the slaves to do their work?

No, slaves were not payed to do any work, slavery is forced work, htey were only give food and water.


What year were slaves forced to fight in the roman colosseum?

Slaves were forced to fight in the Roman Colosseum primarily during the period of the Roman Empire, which began in 27 BCE and lasted until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE. The practice of using gladiators, many of whom were slaves or prisoners of war, became particularly popular in the 1st century CE. Gladiatorial games were a significant form of entertainment in ancient Rome, with evidence of such events occurring as early as the 3rd century BCE.


Did the Roman empire help spread Christianity?

The Roman Empire made Christianity the official religion of the Empire, and 'encouraged' the peoples it conquered to convert.


How were roman slaves transported?

Roman slaves were mainly transported in open wooden based wagons. Slaves that were gladiators, however, did have the pleasure of riding on horseback at times. For forced labor workers, walking was the only way for them to get where they were supposed to go. They would, of course, be tied up or shackled to prevent escape.


Who forced the last Roman Emperor in the west to abdicate?

Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.Odoacer forced the last Roman emperor of the west to abdicate.


What was the roman slaves religion?

The religion of a slave depended on where he was from. Slaves came from all over the empire and different areas of the empire had different peoples with different religions. Apart form Jewish slaves who were Jews and monotheists, the religions of the other slaves were polytheistic as all other religions around the rest of the empire were polytheistic.


What jobs did roman slaves do?

Roman slaves did everything from hard labor to housework.


Who built the walls of Pompeii?

roman craftsman and slaves