But in 73BC, no one could envision that the small light ignited by the escape of a few Capuan gladiators would turn all of Italy aflame.įrom the ludus (gladiator school) of a so-called Lentulus Batiatus in Capua, the Thracian Spartacus leads his fellow men into escape, carrying brands with which they put the local militia to flight. In 133 and 101 BC, two revolts had degenerated in large servile wars in Sicily, and took years to be crushed.

Whereas a few slaves, usually employed at home, could become freedmen after earning their liberty from their masters, the great majority could envision no hope and were badly treated. This proletariat will be the base on which ambitious and demagogic politicians will play, offering 'bread and games', to make them their clients against the Senate.Īs for the thousands of slaves, they replace the former free workers as laborers for all the hardest tasks, in the mines, careers and Latifundias, the large estates of the rich Roman citizens, usually in Southern Italy and Sicily. This large mass of costless manpower quickly leads poor Roman free workers to misery, inactivity and anger. Among one of the results of the victorious conquests, there is a huge influx of slaves into Italy which creates long term dramatic consequences. Roman territorial expansion after the Punic Wars has led to major political, economic and social changes.

Alea jacta est dlc