Price Controls in Slave Markets

[Onasander]

http://www.iraqinews.com/features/exclusive-isis-document-sets-prices-christian-yazidi-slaves/

 

 

So.... did ancient armies try to do this too? Any evidence of it?

[caldrail]

The Romans were as usual ambivalent about such things. Sometimes they enforced prices for political reasons whilst at other times it was down to market forces. Since many slaves were brought into the market during the period of conquest, typically the profit found its way into the hands of the Roman elite - so they that had a vested interest in accentutating market forces when it suited them. Later in the imperial emoire attempts to control the economy imposed price levels, but this was as far as I'm aware unsuccessful.

[GhostOfClayton]

I really haven't got the time or inclination to do any actual research to back this answer up, but surely slaves would have been included in Diocletian's Edict on Maximum Prices?

[Onasander]

Thank you for that Clayton, just started reading this:

http://www.academia.edu/2270062/Mancipium_rusticum_sive_urbanum_the_slave_chapter_of_Diocletians_edict_on_maximum_prices_in_By_the_sweat_of_your_brow_Roman_slavery_in_its_socio-economic_setting_ed._U._Roth_BICS_Suppl._109_London_2010_pp._1-20

 

I'm on the second page, but it claims Justinian had the only other ruling.

 

I know the Romans kept slaves till the 9th century at least, as Michael Psellos had one. My original question was war booty slaves.... but this is good too.