Greek and Roman Slaveries

Greek and Roman Slaveries explores the foundational role of slavery in Greek and Roman societies, impacting nearly all aspects of their economic, social, political, and cultural practices. The book provides a rich collection of literary, epigraphic, papyrological, and archaeological sources, many of which are unfamiliar. Covering a chronological span from the archaic period to late antiquity, it encompasses regions like the Mediterranean, the Near East, and temperate Europe.

Readers will engage with both past scholarship and new research agendas, with a focus on the agency of ancient slaves, the contexts in which slavery was inscribed, the evolving history of slavery during antiquity, and the comparative study of ancient slaveries.

This sourcebook is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in courses on ancient slavery and on slavery more broadly. With questions, cross-references, and bibliographies, the book encourages an analytical and interactive exploration of the economic, social, and political processes and contexts in which slavery was employed, while recognising the agency of enslaved individuals.