The Roman Republic, not the Empire, that is the main difference.
Ancient Egypt was a shitty place, a total theocracy combined with an absolute monarchy and brutal slavery. There wasn't anything good there that I can point too.
But Rome was indeed a great place pre Caesar, I mean you literally had politicians say these things:
"By Liberty I understand the Power which
every Man has over his own Actions, and hisRight to enjoy the Fruits of his Labour, Art, and Industry, as far as by it he hurts not the Society, or any Members of it, by taking from any Member, or by hindering him from enjoying what he himself enjoys. The Fruits of a Man's honest Industry are the just Rewards of it, ascertained to him by natural and eternal Equity, as is his Title to use them in the Manner which he thinks fit: And thus, with the above Limitations,every Man is sole Lord and Arbitrer of his own private Actions and Property." - Cato the Younger
When was the last time you heard a senator say things like this? It was so long ago.
Sorry. My mistake. :(
love that quote! Think I'll put it ion a tee shirt. :)
Cheers buddy. Much appreciated. I'll look into the Roman Republic.
Cool. I just looked it up, it was a 3% tax according to a source, that was levied on property, and some flat license fees that were really tiny if you engaged in trading. Like if you bought yourself a place to trade in a market you rented out that place for a flat fee.
But other than that, absolutely no other taxes: no income tax, no sales tax, nothing else.
And there weren't even that many slaves in the beginning. And most slaves were housemaids, or people who worked in the garden.
Most farming jobs were done by the peasants, so slaves in some cases had better quality life than the farmers.
It was more like servants than slaves. They had full rights to move in the city, to marry, or even to buy property.
So it wasn't that harsh slavery as the other forms of that time.