Slavery and Society at Rome / Edition 1

by Keith Bradley

Overview

This book is about the life of the slave in classical Roman society and the importance of the institution of slavery in Roman civilization generally. Its main purpose is to communicate, particularly to an undergraduate audience, the harshness of the institution, and to convey what the experience of being a slave at Rome was like from a slave's point of view. The book's importance lies in the fact that it deals with a subject of great interest and is the only comprehensive treatment of Roman slavery currently available.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521378871
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/13/1994
Series:	Key Themes in Ancient History
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	218
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.51(d)

Table of Contents

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.

Editorial Reviews

"...it should quickly become a standard reference work." History

"Belongs in every college and seminary library." Religious Studies Review

"While he documents such objective aspects of slavery as the sources of new slaves, the mechanics of sale and manumission, the material aspects of slave life such as food, clothing, and housing, and the types of rewards and punishments, he also performs the more difficult, original and compelling task of determining how these conditions were subjectively experienced by the slaves themselves. That he handles these complex issues so well in a highly readable book of only 202 pages is a testament to his skill as both a writer and a scholar." New England Classical Journal

"...he [Bradley] provides a wealth of historical evidence to support his claim. For philosophers, Bradley provides a rich ore that will help illuminate and recast much of the tradition. ...Bradley's work is exceptionally fruitful. He masterfully intertwines a rich narrative suitable for non-specialists with abundant citations that should sate more advanced readers. The work is both entertaining and informative, and for those reasons, highly recommended." Canadian Philosophical Reviews

"This is an excellent introduction to Roman slavery and the best textbook-style work on the subject currently available. Obtaining the rights for translations into other languages should be high on the agenda of attentive academic publishers worldwide." Phoenix

"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

From the Publisher