Slaves and Slavery in Ancient Greece
Slaves and Slavery in Ancient Greece
Slavery in ancient Greece was commonplace. In this book Sara Forsdyke uncovers the wide range of experiences of slaves and focuses on their own perspectives, rather than those of their owners, giving a voice to a group that is often rendered silent by the historical record. By reading ancient sources 'against the grain,' and through careful deployment of comparative evidence from more recent slave-owning societies, she demonstrates that slaves engaged in a variety of strategies to deal with their conditions of enslavement, ranging from calculated accommodation to full-scale rebellion. Along the way, she establishes that slaves made a vital contribution to almost all aspects of Greek society. Above all, despite their often brutal treatment, they sometimes displayed great ingenuity in exploiting the tensions and contradictions within the system of slavery.
- Highlights the contribution of slaves to ancient Greek society
- Presents a method for investigating the lives of slaves that draws on both ancient and comparative evidence for slavery
- Provides a comprehensive account of the experiences of slaves from the moment of enslavement to their death or achievement of freedom and examines the ideologies of and modes of control employed by slave-owners
Reviews & endorsements
'This excellent work will serve scholars, especially historians and anthropologists ... Highly recommended.' A. J. Papalas, CHOICE
‘Anyone who wants to deal with slavery in classical Greece, especially in Athens, is strongly recommended to read this exciting read of a new research approach.’ Elisabeth Herrmann-Otto, GNOMON
‘… This book is a significant contribution to the study of ancient Greek slavery. The careful analysis and comparative approach adopted offer new insights into the lives of Greek slaves. For those with an interest in slavery in ancient Greece, it can be a stimulating and accessible read.’ Catarina Madeira, CADMO
Product details
June 2021Paperback
9781107658899
200 pages
230 × 150 × 15 mm
0.42kg
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Approaching slavery in Ancient Greece: motivations, methods and definitions
- 2. Becoming a slave: 'the day of slavery'
- 3. Being a slave: experiences of slavery
- 4. Slaves and status
- 5. Resourceful slaves and controlling masters
- 6. Why should we care?
