Violence in Roman Social Relations

This article studies the violence that occurred in some Roman social relations. It shows that violence ruined some social relations among the Romans more than it did others. The Roman elite did not condone violence as a mode of interaction among peers. However, the elite felt that it was completely normal to treat their slaves violently, in order to emphasize their status and authority. The article concludes that Roman social relations were not governed by brutality and violence, and that it was hardly used to resolve interpersonal conflicts.