Economic strategies of a Roman Landowner – Pliny the Younger

Abstract

We have more detailed information on the life and career of Pliny the Younger than any other Roman author. Pliny left upon posterity 9 books of private correspondence, and book 10 of his collection of letters contains his correspondence with Emperor Traianus while Pliny was the governor of province Bithynia. Extra attention has been paid to the latter for it provides us with important and significant data on the early history of Christianity. Pliny informs the emperor about his measures taken against the Christians living in the province, after which he turns to the emperor for advice on what grounds he should punish the Christians. The emperor rejects the idea of initiating either general investigations or investigations based on anonymous accusations, and instructs the governor to only act in duly justified specific cases. Their correspondence reveals that the emperor did not consider Christians to be dangerous.