Slavery and Society at Rome

This book is concerned with discovering what it was like to be a slave in the classical Roman world, and with revealing the impact the institution of slavery made on Roman society at large. It shows how and in what sense Rome was a slave society through much of its history, considers how the Romans procured their slaves, discusses the work roles slaves fulfilled and the material conditions under which they spent their lives, investigates how slaves responded to and resisted slavery, and reveals how slavery, as an institution, became more and more oppressive over time under the impact of philosophical and religious teaching. The book stresses the harsh realities of life in slavery and the way in which slavery was an integral part of Roman civilisation.

• Only comprehensive treatment of Roman slavery currently available • Comprehensive coverage in concise format • The author conveys what the experience of being a slave at Rome was like from the slave’s point of view

1. Confronting slavery at Rome; 2. The slave society of Rome; 3. The Roman slave supply; 4. Slave labour; 5. Quality of life; 6. Resisting slavery; 7. Change and continuity; 8. Slavery and progress; 9. To be a slave; Bibliographical essay; List of works cited; Index.