Slavery in ancient Rome did not end at a specific moment; rather, it gradually declined over several centuries. The institution of slavery was deeply entrenched in Roman society, economic life, and military conquests, with slaves being essential for labor in agricultural, domestic, and industrial settings.
However, by the late Roman Empire, particularly during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, significant changes began to emerge. Economic shifts, social transformations, and the rising influence of Christianity contributed to a decline in the reliance on slave labor.
While there was no formal abolition similar to what occurred in modern contexts, the trend continued until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, after which the use of slave labor diminished significantly. Instead, systems like serfdom began to take their place in the early medieval period.
In summary, slavery did not have a clear-cut end in ancient Rome but rather transitioned and evolved over time, ultimately fading away in the context of changing economic and social dynamics.