Rome was also a usury economy, which concentrated the wealth of the empire into fewer and fewer hands. People were often forced into slavery on latifundia to avoid starvation.
The roman experience is one reason why the pre-Reformation church was so set against usury.
Thankfully, we won't make the mistake of allowing usury to dominate our civilization again. :|
"A latifundium is a very extensive parcel of privately owned land. The latifundia of Roman history were great landed estates specializing in agriculture destined for export: grain, olive oil, or wine."
Wasn’t debt slavery abolished quite in Roman history?
I don’t think there is much evidence that free citzens were often reduced to slavery. Slaves were almost exclusively war captives or imported from abroad.
The roman experience is one reason why the pre-Reformation church was so set against usury.
Thankfully, we won't make the mistake of allowing usury to dominate our civilization again. :|