A study of ancient Roman social life, with particular emphasis on the marginalised (or so-called ’invisible’) lower classes, including slaves, gladiators, prostitutes and bandits.

The vast and enduring empire of Rome was built upon the backs of men and women whose names never made it into the history books. This paper studies the lives of the marginalised (or so-called 'invisible') lower classes in ancient Rome, including slaves, gladiators, prostitutes and bandits. In doing so, it reveals a society that was often brutal and violent and based upon values very different from our own.