It varied. Cicero's Tiro did OK. Laureion silver miners not so much. But the ancient world had a few excuses (always done it; can't afford to keep people idle in prison; needed for the grai… (View Post)

That is just wrong. The wholesale commoditisation of slaves to facilitate an entirely new and frivolous trade, by a supposedly enlightened and Christian society which had abandoned slavery for half a… (View Post)

Steller pun. (View Post)

French abolished it 1795 but NB reinstated it The British claim that it was never OK *in Britain* doesn't get them off any hooks that I can see (View Post)

Yes. nobody has to apologise, but equally nobody should deny. (View Post)