Off Topic

Brian Sullivan navillusbpi at primus.com.au
Thu May 11 09:33:36 EDT 2000


Dear Robbie,

You asked how many slaves existed in Rome.

Upshur, Terry Kolka, Goff and Cassar (1999, p. 139) state that 'perhaps 
one-fourth of the population throughout antiquity consisted of slaves 
acquired through warefare, piracy, and trade.' It adds: 'the great majority 
of runnaway slaves were consigned to hard labour in the fields and mines. 
Runnaways turned to banditry in the Italian countryside and posed a 
problemof national security: for example, 100,000 rebellious slaves led by 
Spartucus were crushed by Roman legions in 73 BCE, but only after two years 
at large, during which they inflicted several defeats on Roman 
legions'(ibid p 142).

Stavrianos (1992, p. 52) claims that the world population at the time of 
Christ was 133 miliion. There are higher estimates, but if it is any where 
near accurate we could guess over 30 million slaves.

OK its only a wild guess but I hope it helps.


Brian Sullivan

Bibliography:

Stavrianos, L. S. 'The Nature of Tributary Societies'. Life Lines From Our 
Past: A New World History. New York: M. E. Sharpe, 1992, pp. 51-64

Upshur, J., Terry, J., Holoka, J., Goff, R. & Cassar G., World History: Vol 
1 - Before 1600: The Development of Early Civilisations', Wadsworth, 
Belmont, USA.



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