Columella.+On+Farming

Columella held estates in Spain and Italy, and wrote this treatise between AD 60 and 65. On Farming is a handbook for landowners, and stresses the qualities of a good landlord. It also gives advice on how to manage slaves and how to assign them appropriate tasks. We read this because it reflects the attitude towards slaves during the first century and distinguishes slaves from free men. Farming was a big part of life in Rome so the dynamics that Cornella discusses between landowner and slave are an integral part of the culture.