(from our correspondent) However, one of the greatest "supporters of slavery" were the Romans, who enslaved their war prisoners, ranging from the 20,000 of the first Punic War to one million of men deported from Gaul by Julius Caesar. "In the Isle of Delos, the greatest slave market in the Roman world recalled card. Bozanic , as many as 10,000 slaves a day were sold, and as a percentage slaves accounted for 30% of the population or even 70% at some times". The Romans used slaves in copper, lead, silver, iron and gold mines, or in the cities for menial chores, heavily punished if they tried to escape or steal. In ancient Israel, there were the "foreign slaves" (war prisoners or bought slaves), and the Israelite slaves who had to be freed after six years. Yet, the Old Testament is all a message of release, especially the Leviticus, with the establishment of the jubilee year, "which enabled everyone to go back to their regular property and to freedom". (continued)
