New Research Shows Slavery’s Outsized Role in Pompeii’s Economy

New Research Shows Slavery’s Outsized Role in Pompeii’s Economy

Millions of tourists visit the ancient site of Pompeii each year to explore enchanting frescoes, opulent villas, and a seemingly frozen snapshot of a prosperous Roman town. But how did Pompeii come to reach such levels of success and affluence? A new study argues that this was largely due to the labor of enslaved people, who were indispensable to the city’s growth until its demise in 79 CE. The study also provides further evidence that the wides…