Amicus Brief Misuse of Slave Labor v. Necessity of Slave Labor Reason why the Roman Empire fell Slave Labor

The number of slaves increased dramatically during the first two centuries of the Roman Empire. The Roman's dependency on slave labor led not only to the decline in morals, values and ethics but also to the stagnation of any new technology to produce goods more efficiently. Romans could rely on slave power for all their needs, and this reliance inhibited technological change and growth. The terrible treatment of slaves led to rebellion and several Servile (Slave) Wars, the most famous being the revolt led by Spartacus. In the later centuries of the Empire and the advent of Christianity the attitudes towards slaves changed. With manumission (the act of freeing a slave) the number of slaves declined together with the manpower that Rome depended upon.