It's worth noting that during the middle republic and early imperial years (say the 200-200s) Rome was possibly the most unequal (but still successful) society

It's worth noting that during the middle republic and early imperial years (say the 200-200s) Rome was possibly the most unequal (but still successful) society history has known. The senatorial class owned pretty much everything - and they gave it away on a daily basis in return for power - vote for Brutus and get bread to feed your family. It's hard as a free Roman to get a job working for Caser when old Julius has slaves for everything he can possibly need. The jobs available were basically legionnaire or subsistence farmer (the big farms were worked by ... slaves). If people today think immigrants are coming to take their jobs, just imagine how slavery looks