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One of the problems with Rome was that by using slaves, the rich didn’t value work. People are more productive if they are compensated according to their produc
by Findeton 1y ago
One of the problems with Rome was that by using slaves, the rich didn’t value work. People are more productive if they are compensated according to their productivity. Also the rich didn’t systematically reinvest their capital in the most productive way as capitalists do nowadays, instead they bought titles/positions, land or married their children.
- miki_tyler 1y agoThat’s something I really want to explore. If Rome had an industrial revolution, where progress didn’t rely on slaves anymore, it could lead to big political conflicts. You’d have the old guard trying to hold on to power, and a new group pushing for change, a la American Revolution.
- ElevenLathe 1y agoRoman Whigs!
- jcranmer 1y agoThat's not true! We see the invention and diffusion of labor-saving devices throughout the entire history of the Roman Empire!