Colonus (person)
Encyclopedia
A colonus was a type of Roman peasant farmer, a serf. This designation was carried into the Medieval
period for much of Europe.
Coloni worked on large Roman estates called "latifundia
" and could never leave. Latifundia raised sheep and other types of cattle. Traditionally, the latifundia had used slave labor, but in the third Century AD, the cessation of Roman conquests induced a labor shortage, so that in some cases the land was worked by free tenant farmers. Fiscal reforms of Diocletian
tied the peasants to the land, and reduced them to a serf-likes status The tenant farmers were known as coloni (singular: colonus). The coloni farmed the land and paid rent to the owner of the latifundium. Their rent usually consisted of a portion of their harvest, labor, or money.
Coloni could be hunted or flogged if they left the latifundium although technically still free. Increasing numbers of people were forced to become coloni due to the decreasing number of slaves to support the economy because of Rome's failure to win battles. Coloni became bandits, with Bulla Felix as a prime example, which further harmed the trade system.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
period for much of Europe.
Coloni worked on large Roman estates called "latifundia
Latifundia
Latifundia are pieces of property covering very large land areas. The latifundia of Roman history were great landed estates, specializing in agriculture destined for export: grain, olive oil, or wine...
" and could never leave. Latifundia raised sheep and other types of cattle. Traditionally, the latifundia had used slave labor, but in the third Century AD, the cessation of Roman conquests induced a labor shortage, so that in some cases the land was worked by free tenant farmers. Fiscal reforms of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
tied the peasants to the land, and reduced them to a serf-likes status The tenant farmers were known as coloni (singular: colonus). The coloni farmed the land and paid rent to the owner of the latifundium. Their rent usually consisted of a portion of their harvest, labor, or money.
Coloni could be hunted or flogged if they left the latifundium although technically still free. Increasing numbers of people were forced to become coloni due to the decreasing number of slaves to support the economy because of Rome's failure to win battles. Coloni became bandits, with Bulla Felix as a prime example, which further harmed the trade system.