Slavery in the ancient world and in Rome was vital to both the economy and even the social fabric of the society.
- Agricultural Slavery: Though slavery was prevalent in households throughout the city itself, ir was on the farms and plantations where it had it's greatest effect.
- Slavery Made up a Significant percentage of the Roman population: Not only did slavery help push the Roman lower classes into organized mobs, but slaves themselves understandably revolted against oppression.
- Slave Cost in Roman Empire: Slaves could be extraordinarily expensive, and the Roman household slave certainly had a different fate. The price for a male slave in Rome was 500 denarii. A Female cost 6000 denarii.
In short: Slavery in Rome was a vital part of their society. This was the workforce in the farms and plantations, in the constructions, they serves in the homes of the wealthiest.
They had an important role in the economy since they had their own slave market and they took care of the most ardous and difficult tasks,