Latest / Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Roman Slave Trade
This episode explores the brutal economic engine behind Marcus Aurelius's Stoic philosophy: the Roman slave trade. While earlier episodes covered his wars, laws, and plagues, we now turn to the human cost of empire. We examine how Marcomannic War captives were processed in Ostia and sold into domestic service or hard labor. Lucas traces the journey from the Danube frontier to the markets of Rome, highlighting the role of Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus in managing these acquisitions. Luna asks probing questions about the moral contradictions faced by a philosopher-emperor who owned…
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