An Economic History of Rome to the end of the Republic

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This historic book may contain numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can often download a free scanned copy of the original book from the publisher. Not indexed or illustrated, this edition dates back to 1920. The text highlights the growing divide between the rich and the poor in Italy, where the population of slaves increased while the Italian citizenry dwindled due to poverty, heavy taxation, and military service. When the citizens found brief relief from these hardships, they often resorted to idleness, as land was predominantly owned by the wealthy who preferred to employ slaves over free labor. Appian's redundant phrases emphasize the multitude of evils faced by the populace. The new generation, lacking opportunities to acquire land, either sank into urban slums or emigrated to newly established provinces, resulting in a significant loss to Rome's citizen body. Despite the constant manumission of slaves, the population of citizens saw only a slight increase of 1.3% annually after the Second Punic War, followed by a decline of one-fourth of one percent annually for the next thirty years, despite territorial expansion. A comprehensive analysis of the population decline would require exploring various factors, including the Malthusian law, social issues, and birth control, though data on these topics is limited.