The Cambridge World History of Slavery: Volume 1, The Ancient Mediterranean World

Surveys the history of slavery in the ancient Mediterranean world, concentrating particularly on the societies of ancient Greece and Rome.

Keith Bradley (Edited by), Paul Cartledge (Edited by)

9780521840668, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 March 2011

632 pages, 12 b/w illus.
23.5 x 16.3 x 3.9 cm, 1 kg

'This first instalment in the four-volume Cambridge World History of Slavery is an impressive synthesis of current Anglophone scholarship on slavery in the Greek and Roman worlds. It is a very welcome addition to the bibliography. With its wide chronological and thematic scope, its detailed coverage of key scholarship and primary sources and the authority of the contributors, it is sure to become the first port of call for students and for scholars approaching a period or topic for the first time. This substantial volume is certainly the new authority on Greco-Roman slavery. It is an invaluable resource for students and scholars alike.' Miles Lavan, The Journal of Roman Studies

Volume 1 in the new Cambridge World History of Slavery surveys the history of slavery in the ancient Mediterranean world. Although chapters are devoted to the ancient Near East and the Jews, its principal concern is with the societies of ancient Greece and Rome. These are often considered as the first examples in world history of genuine slave societies because of the widespread prevalence of chattel slavery, which is argued to have been a cultural manifestation of the ubiquitous violence in societies typified by incessant warfare. There was never any sustained opposition to slavery, and the new religion of Christianity probably reinforced rather than challenged its existence. In twenty-two chapters, leading scholars explore the centrality of slavery in ancient Mediterranean life using a wide range of textual and material evidence. Non-specialist readers in particular will find the volume an accessible account of the early history of this crucial phenomenon.

Series editors' introduction: 1. Slavery in the Ancient Near East Daniel C. Snell
2. Slaves in Greek literary culture Peter Hunt
3. Classical Athens T. E. Rihll
4. The Helots: a contemporary review Paul Cartledge
5. Slavery and economy in the Greek world Dimitris J. Kyrtatas
6. The slave-supply in Classical Greece David Braund
7. Slavery and the Greek family Mark Golden
8. Resistance among chattel slaves in the Classical Greek world Niall McKeown
9. Archaeology and Greek slavery Ian Morris
10. Slavery in the Hellenistic world Dorothy J. Thompson
11. Slavery and Roman literary culture Sandra R. Joshel
12. Slavery in the Roman Republic Keith Bradley
13. Slavery under the Principate Neville Morley
14. The Roman slave supply Walter Scheidel
15. Slave labour and Roman society John Bodel
16. Slavery and the Roman family Jonathan Edmonson
17. Resisting slavery at Rome Keith Bradley
18. Slavery and Roman material culture Michele George
19. Slavery and Roman law Jane F. Gardner
20. Slavery and the Jews Catherine Hezser
21. Slavery and the rise of Christianity Jennifer Glancy
22. Slavery in the late Roman world Cam Grey.

Subject Areas: Slavery & abolition of slavery [HBTS], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]