Jefferson wrote: > Ibrahim wrote: > > >>This is a fairly significant issue, I think, as it would affect the economic >>structure of the majority of Midsea societies, depending on which way they >>are. > > > Definitely. > > >>What do you all think of this? How widespread is slavery in the Midsea? I >>personally think it would be significant, given that the Midsea is at a >>Bronze-Iron age level of development. > > > I agree that slavery is probably widespread and significant. However, I don't > think comparisons to the Bronze Age are approprite. The level of technology > seems to be roughly that of 14th century Europe, 11th century Persia, or 9th > century China. > I agree with that assessment, with the caveat that the level is not exactly analagous. > >>The only factors that would significantly affect slavery would be: >> >>- population levels. An abundance of cheap labour would undermine the >>importance of slavery, whereas a society lacking in labour would utilise >>slavery to fill the void. This would be the demand factor. > > > Population levels have little to do with it. What matters is social stability > and warfare. Expanding societies and those engaged in warfare can acquire > slaves cheaply. In stable societies slaves don't reproduce as well and become > outnumbered by the free poor. In expanding Rome, slaves were a major economic > factor. In stable China, that factor was minor. Using this standard, Kaeir > would have a large slave population, Mir would have a tiny one, and the Free > Cities would fall somewhere into the middle ground. > In its earlier days, the Cedonian Empire relied heavily on slave labor. As the Empire matured, its economy and society developed, and slavery became less and less important. Interestingly, the largest single slaveholder throughout Cedonia's history was always the Imperial Government. Government-owned slaves played a crucial role in the administration of the Empire and in the construction of Imperial public works projects. These slaves were always freed after 30 years of imperial service; many continued working in their old jobs as freedmen. For privately owned slaves, there were not many ways out of slavery, besides death. Generally, when a slave-owner died, he would free the most senior slaves in his will. Some slave-owners would manumit their slaves as a reward for loyal service. Slaves who could save enough money were allowed by Imperial Law to buy themselves from their masters at cost. Many slaves who wanted freedom took a different path. Imperial Law specified that anyone could volunteer for service with the legions or a city watch at any time. If a slave wanted to enlist in the legions, his owner could not prevent it, and with the completion of 25 years of service, the slave would be a full citizen with voting rights, not simply a freedman. Slaves who volunteered to join a city watch had a similar deal, but only had to complete six years of service. However, surviving 25 years in the legions was far more likely than surviving 6 years in a city watch. Currently, there are very few slaves in Cedonia. The population is large enough for slaveholding to be unprofitable. Indentured servitude for a fixed period is far more common, and is heavily regulated by the government. One may also find debt-slavery, but again, this is heavily regulated. > >>- religion. Certainly in any society where the dominant religion is >>anti-slavery, then it probably wouldn't exist. However, that would pit a >>religion like the cult of Demerhaze against any agricultural "elite", who >>might benefit from slavery. > > > From what I see, there aren't any dominant religions that are anti-slavery. > In areas where Demerhaze is dominant she isn't anti-slavery. In areas where > she's anti-slavery she isn't dominant. (Exquaestio doesn't have a stance on > slavery at this point.) > Not strictly true. Demerhaze is both dominant and anti-slavery in Kasovia. This is largely because in the days when the Cedonians still used large numbers of slaves, many came from Kasovia.> >> Have any magic-using societies been able to develop magical >>alternatives or labour-reducing enhancements? > > > As far as magic goes only Mir seems to have the ability, and their population > is such that they don't need them. > > I've never been sure about the presence of devices like water wheels. My > assumption has been that they're present, but not particularly prevalent or > efficient (Roman model). > IIRC, there was a player who was pushing his society to develop technologically. While that hasn't really gone anywhere, I think that the MidSea could possibly see a minor industrial revolution in a few decades if someone invents an improved water wheel. In Cedonia, the city of Caladyn was founded at a large waterfall on the Imperial River, where river traffic had to portage. One of these days, someone is going to look at those falls and think, "Hmm." Andrew ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
