Corvee
Corvee was unpaid labor forced by the state on certain classes of people, such as peasants, for the work on public projects. The corvee differed from forced labor because the work requirement was irregular and for a limited time only: usually only a certain number of days a year. Unlike other forms of tax, such as a tithe, the corvee does not require the population to have land, crops or cash and so it tended to be favored in economies where there was little money. During
the feudalization of the Roman Empire, the corvee system was part of the social
and economic system, but towns and the townspeople were able to free themselves
by money payment instead of services.
Slavery
Some of the slaves offered at markets in Classical times were children of slaves, or were born into slavery. Others were the victims of war, piracy and the exposure of unwanted children. In Athens, it had been forbidden by Solon, at the beginning of the sixth century to throw an Athenian citizen into slavery if they were in debt. There were monthly markets where slaves were bought and sold held in the mining district around Sounion, and inside the city wall in the Agora. The market price varied according to age, sex, origin, physical strength and mental agility. Slaves fell into different categories depending on what work they did: house-slaves, mine workers, slaves 'living out' [khoris oikountes], and public slaves. A slave was seen as an possession - a "soulless chattel" (ktema apsykho) - to be bought and sold like any other movable asset. Any free person, either citizen or foreigner, could become a slave-owner. The right of life was guaranteed to slaves in Athens. But a master was not allowed to kill his slave, Athenian law did not prohibit a slave-owner to torture or mistreat slaves. Slaves did not have the right to own property, unless the master allowed him to keep back part of what he earned for services rendered, but this income legally belonged to his master.
Family and Household Production
The caste system described many features of Indian social and economic life, assigning people to jobs and regulating marriage possibilities. Family life also highlighted the theme of hierarchy and organization, as it evolved from the Vedic and Epic ages. The strictness of family life and male dominance over women were greater in theory than they usually turned out to be in practice. In all, families in classical India, as in all agricultural societies, formed economic units.
In China, family structures were based on Confucianism, which was based on relationships within a family. Fathers were at the top of the family, their sons were second, mothers were third and the son’s wives were the lowest in the family. Men mostly dominated in the family structure in China. In China, loyalty to the family was considered to be very important.
In Persia and Rome, gender played a greater role than family structure. Men performed jobs and left the home to earn wages. Women stayed home and took care of family and chores. Women married at a young age, some in their teens to men who were in their twenties.
Sources:
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_stearns_worldhstbr_4/178/45575.cw/
http://www.ime.gr/chronos/05/en/society/slaves_intro.html
http://www.gendercide.org/case_corvee.html
Charlene Wilts
In China, family structures were based on Confucianism, which was based on relationships within a family. Fathers were at the top of the family, their sons were second, mothers were third and the son’s wives were the lowest in the family. Men mostly dominated in the family structure in China. In China, loyalty to the family was considered to be very important.
In Persia and Rome, gender played a greater role than family structure. Men performed jobs and left the home to earn wages. Women stayed home and took care of family and chores. Women married at a young age, some in their teens to men who were in their twenties.
Sources:
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_stearns_worldhstbr_4/178/45575.cw/
http://www.ime.gr/chronos/05/en/society/slaves_intro.html
http://www.gendercide.org/case_corvee.html
Charlene Wilts