condition of workers view of pliny and elder columella
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the roman empire, slaves and workers
1. AN EMPIRE ACROSS THREE CONTINENTS SLAVES AND WORKERS
2. Slavery was an institution deeply rooted in the ancient world , both in the Mediterranean and in the near east and not even Christianity when it emerged as the state religion seriously challenged this institution. Under Augustus there was still 3 million slaves in a total Italian population of 7.5 million.
3. Slaves were an investment , and at least one roman agricultural writer advised landowners against using them because their health could be damaged by malaria. These considerations were not based on any sympathy for the slaves but on hard economic calculation. On the other hand, if the roman upper classes were often brutal towards their slaves, ordinary people did sometimes show much more compassion. This can be seen through the following case study. Soon after the city perfect , Lucius Pedanius Secundus was murdered by one of his slaves. Ancient custom required that every slave residing under the same roof must be executed. But a crowd gathered eager to save so many lives and rioting began. Inside the senate there was a feeling against excessive severity, but the majority opposed any change(the senators). However, great crowds ready with stones and torches prevented the order from being carried. Nero rebuked the population and lined with troops the whole root along which those