I'm sorry. I meant to come here and privately message one of our authorities on Rome, but I cannot recall his username at the moment.
So I will ask here: is it plausible for a Roman slave to gain his freedom and then turn around and make millions, allowing him to "lord" over his former master (and anyone else who gets in his way)? I understand that they could become Roman citizens so I guess it's possible, but I'd like to hear it from someone who knows more than me.
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Roman Slaves
[quote=""Rowan""]I'm sorry. I meant to come here and privately message one of our authorities on Rome, but I cannot recall his username at the moment.
So I will ask here: is it plausible for a Roman slave to gain his freedom and then turn around and make millions, allowing him to "lord" over his former master (and anyone else who gets in his way)? I understand that they could become Roman citizens so I guess it's possible, but I'd like to hear it from someone who knows more than me.[/quote]
Yes, a freedman could turn around and make a fortune, but he will always remain a client of his former master. Whether he remains socially inferior depends on whether his master belongs to the patrician class, and on what time period of Roman history you're writing about. In the later period it might be plausible for a freedman to exercise more authority, but in the Republic and earlier Imperial period, absolutely not. There were some exceptions, though, such as certain freedmen attached to the Emperors, who wielded great influence.
A person to ask would be Steven Saylor. He's knowledgeable, and very friendly.
So I will ask here: is it plausible for a Roman slave to gain his freedom and then turn around and make millions, allowing him to "lord" over his former master (and anyone else who gets in his way)? I understand that they could become Roman citizens so I guess it's possible, but I'd like to hear it from someone who knows more than me.[/quote]
Yes, a freedman could turn around and make a fortune, but he will always remain a client of his former master. Whether he remains socially inferior depends on whether his master belongs to the patrician class, and on what time period of Roman history you're writing about. In the later period it might be plausible for a freedman to exercise more authority, but in the Republic and earlier Imperial period, absolutely not. There were some exceptions, though, such as certain freedmen attached to the Emperors, who wielded great influence.
A person to ask would be Steven Saylor. He's knowledgeable, and very friendly.
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Rowan - hee - I wondered the same thing. I guess many of us, being fans of this genre, share quite a few reads in common!
"To be the queen, she agreed to be the widow!"
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The pre-modern world was willing to attribute charisma to women well before it was willing to attribute sustained rationality to them.
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[quote=""MLE (Emily Cotton)""]Are you perhaps reading Pompeii by Robert Harris?[/quote]
I was just going to say that!
I was just going to say that!
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}
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[quote=""DianeL""]Rowan - hee - I wondered the same thing. I guess many of us, being fans of this genre, share quite a few reads in common! [/quote]
I actually found this book at a library sale and the title is what caught my eye and made me buy it. I guess the idea/setting is so unique that it's easy to figure out what's what. I usually don't think about what others have read unless I'm starting to dislike the book and then I come here to see if anyone else has read it and what they think and if I should just "hang in there".
I actually found this book at a library sale and the title is what caught my eye and made me buy it. I guess the idea/setting is so unique that it's easy to figure out what's what. I usually don't think about what others have read unless I'm starting to dislike the book and then I come here to see if anyone else has read it and what they think and if I should just "hang in there".