The use of enslaved people on large Roman estates (*latifundia*) saw a sharp increase following the Second Punic War, growing exponentially until the 1st century AD. The causes lie in several factors: first, Rome's expropriation of vast tracts of land from the Italian allies (*socii*) who had sided with Hannibal—lands that ended up in the hands of wealthy members of the patrician class and, later, the equestrian order; second, the massive influx of slave labor resulting from Roman victories in the East and Iberia. Furthermore, an agricultural enslaved person was inexpensive to maintain, as he received no wages; he had to make do with meagre food and lodging and—unlike an urban enslaved person—had little chance of ever gaining his freedom.

In his *De agri cultura*, Cato provides comprehensive guidelines on organizing slave labor, as well as on the enslaved people's roles, training, and upkeep. Enslaved people assigned to a specific type of crop were placed under the supervision of an overseer chosen from among their own ranks, often assisted by specialised free farmhands. Cato advised overseers against cruelty toward the enslaved people; it was sufficient to ensure they did not suffer from hunger or cold and were kept constantly at work. If an enslaved person fell ill or became too old to work, he was to be sold immediately.

Since the enslaved person had no legal protections—only the injury of another person's slave was prosecuted, as it constituted an infringement on property rights; Varro defined them as "speaking tools"—the master could dispose of them at will in the event of errors. Cato was accustomed to personally punishing an enslaved person in front of the rest of the household staff or executing him for serious transgressions; the aim was to maintain strict discipline, given the sheer number of enslaved people concentrated on his estates.

Cato wrote during a period when Roman expansion ensured a steady influx of enslaved people, so replacing them was not an issue. As this expansion slowed and eventually stalled in the 2nd century AD, perceptions of the agricultural enslaved person shifted. Unlike Cato, Columella—in his *De re rustica*—concerned himself with the enslaved people's health, recommending the construction of suitable quarters for their rest to preserve their well-being and, consequently, their numbers; replacing them had become more difficult and, at the same time, counterproductive. Yet, he also advised against using them, deeming them unreliable for land management; instead, he recommended leasing the land to free tenant farmers (*coloni*), even though the latter's living conditions did not differ significantly from those of the enslaved people.