Greek and Roman Slaveries

A rich and stimulating exploration of sources shedding light on slavery in Greek and Roman societies 

Greek and Roman Slaveries offers readers an engaging and interactive approach to the complex economic, social, and political processes and contexts in which slavery was employed by Greek and Roman societies. At the same time, this sourcebook places the agency of enslaved persons at center stage, while also tracing changes over time and between different ancient slave systems.  

Tackling a phenomenon that was fundamental to Greek and Roman cultures, and deeply affected all of their economic, social, political, and cultural practices, this book includes a rich collection of literary, epigraphic, papyrological, and archaeological sources, many of which largely unfamiliar to non-specialists. The sources range chronologically from the archaic period to late antiquity and cover the whole of the Mediterranean, the Near East, and temperate Europe.  

Greek and Roman Slaveries also provides readers with: 

• A wide range of textual, visual, and material sources, many of which have never been used to illuminate a discussion of slavery 
• Sources relating to the whole of the Mediterranean world, from the archaic period to late antiquity 
• Interactive material filled with questions, introductions, cross-references, and bibliographies that encourages close analysis of the sources 
• The inclusion of topics that have traditionally generated important research as well as ones at the forefront of innovative research today 

Ideal for students taking undergraduate and graduate courses on ancient slavery, as well as courses on slavery more generally, Greek and Roman Slaveries is an indispensable sourcebook for students and scholars of History, Classics, Ancient History, Classical Archaeology, and the global study of slavery and race.