The Greek warriors believed that slavery was an acceptable part of life. If you were chosen to be a slave this meant that you would do what you were requested to do. The owners of the slaves made life and death decisions on the slaves behalf. They had control over everything that the slave did. The owners told the slaves when to work and how hard, what to eat and when and even when to sleep. If a slave was not deemed obedient then they would be killed by the owner.

Homeless people were the ones that were often sort as slaves and if they were compliant and seen as a good slave then they would be sold on for money. If they were useless then they would be killed.
The slaves usually used to end up working the mines, and mostly the slaves that were chosen were women. If you were born into a family that was poor and needed money then you could expect to be sold on to enable the family to pay off their debts. There was no family loyalty if the money was needed then the child would be sold.

In the mines in Greece where the slaves worked they would often be mining for marble or silver. In other parts of the world they would be mining for copper, lead, tin, gold and other precious metals. They would work in torturous conditions, most not having the luxury of shoes on their feet, there job would be dark, damp and they would often get chest infections through the poor working conditions.

The slaves working in the mines constantly had to sharpen their tools to enable them to work. Women were also made to prostitute themselves as well as cook and serve the food.

In parts of West Africa today there is modern day slavery. As sixty three percent of people who live in West Africa live well below the poverty line slavery is common. Two thirds of the sixty three percent are made up of women. There is a wide gap between men and women in terms of education and health. There is a high fertility rate among women and a high maternal mortality rate also. But mining is important for producing all kinds of products including stainless steel piping (Edelstahlrohre).

Many children are also subject to being sold on as slaves for cash in deprived countries throughout the world, in most of the third world countries children will be sold to work in mines to this day. Others are sent to pick crops or harvest to fields, they work long hours and have little sleep. Food is a rarity as is water.

In England in the 1800’s children worked in the mines and caves, and there families lived within them. Never seeing the light of day. Children as young as three were sent to work the mine and they were expected to work hard for their living. Children in today’s society living in England don’t realise what a privileged position they live in, while having stainless steal pipes (Edelstahl Rohr) over the house , when compared to the conditions their ancestors lived in children of today live in a world that dreams are made of.