Why was punishment so central to american slavery

because slavery is dehumanization and it is taking someone stripping them of who they are and saying you are my property and you belong to m, meaning that they will do whatever they are told because they do not own themselves

julius caesar turned the roman republic into the roman empire by coming in and taking the "dictator" role during the time of a civil war (elites vs lower classes) winning battles and reputation, then declaring him dictator for life

hope this : )