AP/HIST 4160 6.00

Slavery In Ancient Greece And Rome

This course explores the phenomenon of slavery in Greek and Roman antiquity, from the Bronze Age until the later Roman empire. Three main thematic areas are covered: ancient attitudes to and theories of slavery from Aristotle to Augustine, the role of slaves in the ancient economy, and the position of slaves in Greek and Roman society. Throughout the course we examine both the continuities within the Greco-Roman world and the ways in which beliefs and practices varied from place to place and over time. Subjects for particular study include: ancient justifications and criticisms of slavery; slavery and ethnicity; the freeing of slaves and the status of freed men and women; the slave trade; slavery and imperialism; slave revolts; slavery and agriculture; the treatment of slaves; slavery and Christianity. Consideration is also given to comparative evidence from other historical periods, and to theoretical writings on slavery.