@ Fidel
Absolutely it ran on slavery, and it was a very unfair system. As a small example, it was a law that a slave must be tortured before giving evidence in court.
But Roman slaves were as often as not of the same race as their masters. Racism existed there, but it was in no way the most important determinant of class. In fact a hard racist policy would have gotten in the way of the roman strategy for conquering and holding territory.
And agriculture probably took a back seat to war when it came to feeding the troops. Germanicus set off on his German campaign primarily because the troops were restless and there was fear they might start looting at home.
THen as now, the wars were made to feed the army, not the other way around.
and @ Rebecca
Very well said. Thank you /