While reading the section of Slavery: The Case of the Roman Empire section, it reminded me of our (U.S) slavery in history in the Americas---the treatment, the cause and how their rights were obtained. Compared to history (Romans, China etc) it has transformed immensely.
For an example, Roman Empire is required to provide "necessities of life to their slaves"--which meant that they were better off being slaves than to be being free and poor. Also, they were able to collect/accumulate money and goods but the kicker if the slave kills his/her master--the price is that all of the slaves would be killed. Yes, killed (not a shocker but very interesting). Compared to Greece "manumission of slaves was a widespread practice, and in the Roman Empire... freedom was accompanied by citizenship (232)." This type of slavery wasn't the same in the Americas but it was less than humane and to my sense, masters were bigot, in-compassionate humans (not all but some).
Overall, I'm glad the text talked about slavery and good reminder that it wasn't just here in America that slavery occurred and it wasn't just African Americas--it was an array of different races (Egyptions, Syrians, Jes, Greeks, Gauls, North Africas etc.) and they were enslaved because they committed a crime or was born into/sold to a wealthy individual.
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