The White Council

Re: Slavery (long)

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: In general, Tolkien does not paint a realistic economic : picture. I find the Shire impossibly prosperous for such a : relatively northern, densely populated (with a people noted for : big appetites!), low tech agrarian country. There must be more : poverty and squalor than we are shown (Middle Earth lacked the : flush toilet and we all know how casually pre-moderns handled : this aspect of life.)

We mostly see the Shire through the eyes of its upper class. The working-class families are there, but they are not in the forefront.

: Thus all of ME's societies logically had to depend on soome : kind of peasant agriculture, with customary and/or coercive : "sharing" of food with their "betters." We don't see much of : this: the countries we see are on a war footing for the most : part, but it has to be there. And, with the absolute tyrrany of : Mordor present as a comparison, whatever burdens Gondorian : peasants endured, may have seemed much lighter.

There is no human country -- Shire, Buckland, Bree, Rohan, or Gondor -- where we don't see farms and indications of the "worker" class. But as you say, the countries are on a "war footing", though Bree is described as being in a depressed state (small village, hardly any traffic, people not having much money). The Shire is able to trade with the Dwarves of Ered Luin, who undoubtedly supplement Shire industry with their own goods and skills.

But pre-industrial age industries could indeed be large and widespread. The ancient Romans had factories for pottery, metal and leather goods (they shipped huge quantities of metal ingots across the Mediterranean, lots of huge clay jars full of wine, and many other goods). In the medieval period towns came to depend on certain industries, such as weaving (which was supported by "cottage industries" of women spinning wool and flax into threads for the weavers), pottery, brick-making, tanning, soap-making (once it became popular), quarrying, mining, etc.

There were many industries which were developed in the ancient world and which survived into the Medieval period, when the Master-Journeyman-Apprentice model (along with guidls) became popular. A lot of the ancient industries were manned by slave labor (so a rich potter might actually have 15-20 slaves working in his shops, etc.).

: Finally, as to Thingol's remark to Turin: thralldom can arise : in many ways. A person without means, a refugee like Turin, may : sell himself into slavery to a person of means (usually a : landlord with military/protective means) in exchange for food, : shelter and protection. Thingol was essentially saying: "no : lad, that won't be necessary. One of your kind did me well : recently, though I had treated him shabbily (Beren). By way of : small compensation, you may stay with me as a honored guest. : You do not have to purchase your board with dishonor. We do not : practice such things, though I have heard of such a custom : among the servants of the Enemy."

Actually, I'd like to see the source for this statemnt from Thingol. I've not found anything in either UNFINISHED TALES or THE SILMARILLION which resembles the remark Tar-Elenion reports. I'm not sure of where to look for it.