The social origin of the owners of Italian villas in the light of the agrarian problem of 2nd century bc

The article suggests a new approach to the agrarian problem in Italy of II C. BC. The issues of farming competence and skills of owners of slaveholding villas are considered, the forms and modes of interactions with small farmers are described. Also the article examines the participation of owners of villas in the life and the activity of a rural community and the notions in the prosperous Italian circles about the agricultural labour.