Society (200 – 27 BC) – Academic Research

The Roman Family by Suzanne Dixon (1992; 978-0801842009) Entry-Level Social. Quite simply the best introduction to Roman society’s fundamental building block. Dixon covers the portrayal of Roman families in law, and the discrepancies between that picture and the reality of family life. There are also chapters on marriage, children, and old age. The whole book is sound scholarship, based on close analysis of literary and epigraphic evidence. Absolutely the place to start for anyone interested in this aspect of Roman history.
Slavery and Society at Rome by Keith Bradley (1994; ISBN 9780511815386). Bradley is one of the top scholars of Roman slavery. This book is a useful introduction to the topic, spanning the Republic to empire in sources and discussion. The book covers topics like sources of enslaved people, their labor and daily life, and resistance.

Society (200 – 27 BC)