How to Manage Your Slaves

An entertaining and amazingly informative guide to the realities of slavery in ancient Rome, introduced by Mary Beard.

At last a clear manual for managing slaves the Roman way. How to Manage your Slaves offers practical answers to every question you're likely to have and guidance on every problem you're likely to encounter. Marcus Sidonius Falx shows where and how to buy the slaves for the purposes you have in mind and how to get the best out of them once you've got them. He explains how to tell a good slave from a bad, offers guidance on the punishment of miscreants, and reveals the secrets of command and authority. He covers the delicate subjects of when you should let your slaves have sex with each other and whether to engage in sex with them yourself - and considers when to set them free. Armed with this guide you will be master in your own home: your household will be a comfort to your family and its running the envy of your neighbours.

Up to now ancient slavery may have been difficult to fathom: this Roman's-eye view takes us to the heart of the matter and, based on a wealth of original sources, lets us understand just why slaves meant so much to the Romans.