ABSTRACT
THE free proletariat increased its numbers between the third and the first centuries at the same time as the slave population. The two phenomena were connected—indeed it may be said that it was the growth of the slave element which led to that of the proletariat—but although the latter was daily adding to its numbers it played but a small part in the economics of production Rather did it become for the State an ever-increasing burden, for public order and the stability of the social system demanded that its members should be fed. It was found necessary to resort to an indefinite extension of the annona in order to compensate for the lack of work and the few available situations, the slave workers having monopolized the greater part of both town and rural labour, thereby relegating the plebs, who enjoyed civic rights, to a condition of incurable unemployment.
