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It has been argued that Spartacus revolt changed the way that the Romans viewed slavery. In the Roman histories, there is certainly a great deal of respect and even admiration for the Thracian. Plutarch stated that Spartacus was a gifted leader and general and compared him favourably to the Roman generals he faced. There are later writers who argue that the revolt of Spartacus led to long-term attitudes to slavery in Roman society. After the end of the Third Servile War, there were to be no more great slave revolts. It has been argued that the Roman elite were so shaken by the revolt of 73-71 BC that they had a new view of slaves. They were more inclined to see them as beings endowed with reason and a soul <ref>Bradley, Keith. Slavery and Rebellion in the Roman World (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1989), p. 156 </ref>. In the person of Spartacus, they encountered a person with all the virtues that they admired in men. This led them to reconsider their view of slaves as a class. It is impossible to state with any degree of certainty if Spartacus changed the Roman elite’s views of their slaves. It seems unlikely, this can be seen in their pleasure in the gladiatorial games and the fact that most slaves were still treated as objects. However, it is undeniable that the revolt by Spartacus was the last of the great Servile Wars <ref> Bradley, p 117</ref>. This is even though many more slaves were imported into Rome from Gaul and elsewhere in the following decades. There is a real possibility that the success of the Thracian gladiator and his many victories so impressed the Romans that they adopted a new strategy to prevent future insurrections. There was a conscious effort by the elite to treat their slaves in a more humane way to prevent a repeat of Spartacus revolt <ref> Bradley, 189</ref>.
==Conclusion==
The revolt by Spartacus is one of the most well-known events in the ancient world. It was in many ways a decisive defeat and slavery remained very common in its aftermath. However, the revolt was very important in the history of Rome. It led to instability and economic contraction in southern Italy and in politics it led to the rise of Crassus. It seems that the revolt did manage to change the way that masters treated their slaves. The revolt demonstrated that slaves could be dangerous and the person of Spartacus showed that they could be the equals of the Romans. This changed the view of many and they began to treat their slaves with more compassion to prevent another slave insurrection. The revolt of 73-71 BCE may even have led in the longer-term to changes in the legal system that gave some rights to slaves. The devastation caused by the ex-slaves and gladiators in southern Italy, led to a temporary slave shortage and this led to a move away from slave labour labor on landed estates to an early form of feudalism. The significance of this was that it may have led to a reduction in the slave numbers in many regions.==References==