Ancient Slavery

This Collection contains works used by the Classical Studies course "Ancient Slavery" taught by Prof. Harry Morgan. This course shines a spotlight on the enslaved populations of Greece and Rome—their thoughts and experiences, hopes and fears. The course draws on a wide range of ancient sources, both textual and visual, in order to reconstruct the lives of slaves in antiquity. We will consider how the ancient Greeks and Romans justified and normalized the institution of slavery in their literature, philosophy, art, and rhetoric. We will also explore the dark legacy of ancient slavery in modern times, and ask what can be learned from the comparison of slave systems across different periods and geographical regions. All readings, ancient and modern, are in English.