Slavery and Society at Rome

This book, first published in 1994, is concerned with discovering what it was like to be a slave in the classical Roman world.

Keith Bradley (Author)

9780521378871, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 October 1994

218 pages, 1 b/w illus. 5 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.34 kg

"An excellent introduction to Roman slavery, the book will also serve as a sobering corrective to any attempt to palliate slavery in any society." R.I. Curtis, Choice

This book, first published in 1994, 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.

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.

Subject Areas: General & world history [HBG]