Work and Labour in the Cities of Roman Italy

Work and labor were essential to Roman society, with social structures and networks of trust being crucial. This book explores the factors shaping work and labor in Roman Italy under the early empire, including families, labor collectives, slavery, education, and apprenticeship. It offers a new analysis of occupational inscriptions and reliefs, placing them in the wider context of documentary evidence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2023
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Work and labor are essential to understanding Roman society. In a world where reliable information was scarce and economic insecurity loomed large, social structures and networks of trust were paramount to the way work was provided and filled. Taking its cue from New Institutional Economics, this book deals with the wide range of factors shaping work and labor in the cities of Roman Italy under the early empire, from families and familial structures to labor collectives, slavery, education, and apprenticeship.

To illuminate the complexity of the labor market, this monograph offers a new analysis of occupational inscriptions and reliefs from Roman Italy, placing them in the wider context through documentary evidence such as apprenticeship contracts, legal sources, and material remains. This synthesis provides a comprehensive analysis of the ancient sources on work and labor in Roman urban society, leading to a novel interpretation of the labor market and a fuller understanding of the daily lives of non-elite Romans. For some, work was indeed a source of pride, while for others, it was merely a means to an end or a necessity of life.

The study of work and labor in Roman Italy is a rich and complex field that has been the subject of much research in recent years. This monograph aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the various factors that shaped work and labor in the cities of Roman Italy under the early empire. It will explore the role of families and familial structures in shaping work and labor, as well as the impact of labor collectives, slavery, education, and apprenticeship on the market for work.

One of the key themes of this monograph is the role of families and familial structures in shaping work and labor in Roman Italy. Families were the primary units of production and consumption in Roman society, and the structure of families played a significant role in determining the types of work that individuals were able to undertake. For example, families with large numbers of children were more likely to engage in agricultural work, while families with fewer children were more likely to engage in manufacturing or commerce.

Another important theme is the impact of labor collectives on the market for work. Labor collectives were groups of workers who banded together to undertake a particular task or project. These collectives were often formed by trade unions, guilds, or other professional organizations, and they played a significant role in shaping the labor market by providing a pool of skilled workers who could be hired by employers.

Slavery was another important factor that shaped work and labor in Roman Italy. Slavery was a widespread practice in Roman society, and it played a significant role in shaping the labor market by providing a cheap source of labor for employers. However, slavery was also a controversial issue, and it was subject to much debate and regulation by the Roman government.

Education and apprenticeship were also important factors that shaped work and labor in Roman Italy. Education was a key component of the Roman education system, and it was designed to prepare individuals for a variety of careers. Apprenticeship was a system of training that was used to teach individuals the skills necessary for a particular trade or profession.

Finally, the monograph will explore the impact of the Roman government on the market for work. The Roman government was responsible for regulating the labor market, and it implemented a number of policies and regulations to ensure that workers were protected and that employers were held accountable. These policies and regulations included laws governing wages, hours of work, and the minimum wage.

In conclusion, the study of work and labor in Roman Italy is a rich and complex field that has been the subject of much research in recent years. This monograph aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the various factors that shaped work and labor in the cities of Roman Italy under the early empire. It will explore the role of families and familial structures, labor collectives, slavery, education, and apprenticeship on the market for work, and it will also explore the impact of the Roman government on the labor market. By examining these various factors, we can gain a better understanding of the complex and dynamic nature of Roman urban society.

Weight: 680g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802077599