An exciting study of ancient slavery in Greece and Rome, Ancient Greek and Roman Slavery offers an introduction to pivotal issues in the study of classical (Greek and Roman) slavery. The book spans a wide range of topics, from everyday resistance to slavery to philosophical justifications, from the process of enslavement to the decline of slavery after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It uses a diverse spectrum of evidence and relies on concrete and vivid examples.

Introductory chapters provide historical context and a clear discussion of the methodological difficulties in studying ancient slavery. Subsequent chapters are organized around central topics: enslavement, economics, politics, culture, sex and family life, manumission and ex-slaves, everyday conflict, revolts, representations, philosophy and law, and decline and legacy. Each chapter opens with general discussions of important scholarly controversies and challenges in the ancient evidence, followed by detailed case studies from the classical Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman periods.

Organized by key themes with in-depth classical case studies, this book emphasizes Greek/Roman comparisons and contrasts, offering a comprehensive exploration of one of history’s most controversial topics. Read more about Ancient Greek and Roman Slavery.