In Greco-Roman society the typical labourer was a peasant, not a slave. Yet, while specialized studies of ancient slavery abound, the subject of free labour, its incidence, status and economic significance, has received little attention. This volume of essays provides a summary of the available evidence for non-slave labour in antiquity and a bibliographical guide, but in addition advances novel interpretations concerning, for example, the composition of the 'labouring class', the relation between slave and peasant systems of production, and the importance of free dependent labour in the Western Roman provinces.

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Le Travail Libre En Grece Ancienne
• Chapter 3: Free Labour in the City of Athens
• Chapter 4: Grecia: Il Lavoro Urbano
• Chapter 5: Free Labour in the Hellenistic Age
• Chapter 6: Non-Slave Labour in the Roman World
• Chapter 7: Urban Labour in Rome: Mercennarii and Tabernarii
• Chapter 8: Non-Slave Labour in Rural Italy During the Late Republic
• Chapter 9: Rural Labour in Three Roman Provinces
• Back Cover