Landlords and Tenants in Imperial Rome

This work explores private law in imperial Rome as a social element, highlighting how upper-class individuals, including senators, primarily benefited from urban lease laws, rather than the lower class. "Landlords and Tenants in Imperial Rome" offers valuable insights into premodern legal systems.

"Landlords and Tenants in Imperial Rome" offers a detailed exploration of private law as it functioned within the social framework of ancient Rome. Author Bruce Frier delves into the dynamics of urban leasing, highlighting how the legal structures were primarily tailored to serve the interests of the upper class, particularly senatorial families. Through a combination of archaeological findings and analyses of literary and legal texts, Frier illustrates that many elite Romans resided in rented accommodations, challenging the common perception that property ownership was the sole domain of the wealthy.

The book emphasizes the significance of urban lease law, revealing that it was intricately designed to cater to the needs of the upper echelon of society. Frier's research sheds light on the complexities of landlord-tenant relationships during this period, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of how these interactions were governed by legal frameworks that favored the affluent. This examination not only contributes to the field of legal history but also enriches the sociological perspective on law in premodern contexts.

Originally published in 1980, "Landlords and Tenants in Imperial Rome" has been reissued by the Princeton Legacy Library, which aims to make previously out-of-print scholarly works accessible again. This initiative preserves the integrity of the original texts while offering them in durable formats, ensuring that the valuable insights contained within are available to a wider audience interested in the rich scholarly heritage of Princeton University Press.