TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History >The Organistion of Labour
- M.I. Finchley argues slavery declined due to drying of supply -as wars of conquest less successful. Not to say slavery didnt exist large amounts on senatorial estates when Christianised these landowners sold their slaves. Church also large ownership of slaves many forms of production and even and were servile, some coloni were servile servus et colonus. Free tenants who were theoretically tied to their estates by imperial legislation.
- How do we look at imperial legislation? Codex Theodisianus and Codex Justinianus would represent society as virtual serfdom restricts movement of coloni etc. However contemporary sources report social mobility at higher levels. Large gap between theory and practice.
- Roman law often followed rather than led social practice Emperors contradictory statements as they try to look as if they are in control. Shows why so much inconsistency in laws. Diocletian therefore not instigator of rigid and repressive regime. Legislation on coloni tax on them per head only good if their whereabouts known thus state legislated to help landowners trace their labour force. Legislation developed piecemeal in fourth century and results include; geographical inconsistency and fuzzy area between slaves and coloni.
- Reduction in status of colon was at varying times, not until end 4th century in Palestine an Illyricum- Egyptian papyri suggests differing ways in which peasants and landowners treated legally. Doubtful whether conditions had deteriorated that rapidly, but still very harsh for the poor, especially with disparity between way rich and poor treated (mutilation, beatings etc). Christian consciousness and Bishops did help to create term the poor ad evidence that church helped out during times of famine etc.
- No revolutionary economic change much land owned by large landowners who had tenants and saves, by no means simple chronological transition from coloni to medieval serfs. Why would they wasnt to move anyway? Had not done so in the past.
- Assessing level of urban poor also dangerous bias sources for own needs, but tax dents easy to find extreme levels of poverty within urban and rural areas. Although complaints from city officials high, level of imperial intervention only slowly rises and only in latte period is government weakened not until later 6th century that city structures of Eastern Empire suffer real change. Then bishop stepped into the breech and conditions usually remained the same. Economic role of the town remained similar to what it had been in the early empire.
- No economic revolution, some factors certainly contributed increased role of the church diverting money into church building, also bishops filling in, and barbarian invaders settling. Severe damage and army constraints that inevitably bought profound change.
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