Already in describing the Roman economy of the sixth century we have explained that it was based, like all the large undertakings of antiquity generally, on the employment of slaves.( 8) In whatever direction speculation applied itself, its instrument was without exception man reduced in law to a beast of burden.

Trades were in great part carried on by slaves, so that the proceeds fell to the master.

The levying of the public revenues in the lower grades was regularly conducted by the slaves of the associations that leased them.

Servile hands performed the operations of mining, making pitch, and others of a similar kind; it became early the custom to send herds of slaves to the Spanish mines, whose superintendents readily received them and paid a high rent for them.
The vine and olive harvest in Italy was not conducted by the people on the estate, but was contracted for by a slave-owner.

The tending of cattle was universally performed by slaves.