It has often been said that slave-labour was the ruin
of Rome, This view is controverted in the able and scholarly monograph on Slavery in the Roman Empire, which Mr. R. H. Barrow has written (Methuen, 15s.). He shows that Roman slavery differed widely from the modern slavery which England led the way in abolishing. Slaves and free men lived side by side in Rome ; there was no " colour line " ; slaves could buy their freedom, and vast numbers of them rose to high position. Moreover, the supply of slaves was limited ; there was no inexhaustible African reservoir from which to import them. Again, the mingling of races caused by the presence of slaves from all'countries had important effects on the Roman people, not wholly for evil, and doubtless helped to spread Chris- tianity rapidly through the Empire. Mr. Barrow does not Maintain that slavery was a good thing—far from it—but he makes it plain that the evils of Roman slavery were mitigated both by law and by custom to a very considerable extent, To the perennial controversy as to the true causes of Rome's decline the book is a contribution of value.
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