Slavery in Classical Greece (Classical World Series) [Paperback]

N. Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Series: Classical World | Publication Date: August 27, 2001

List of Illustrations iv Preface v Map of Classical Greece vii 1. Definitions and Problems: Chattel Slaves, 1 Serfs, and the Concept of a Slave-Society 2. The Development of Chattel Slavery: From 10 Homer to Solon 3. Community Slaves or Serfs: the Spartan 22 Helots and Others 4. Slaves in Classical Athens: Numbers, 34 and Economic Functions 5. Slaves in Classical Athens: Treatment and 58 and Hopes of Freedom 6. Resistance, Flight and Revolt 79 7. Justifications: Barbarians and Natural Slaves 86 8. Associated Ideologies: Work, Leisure and Sex 99 Suggestions for Further Study 109 Suggestions for Further Reading 111 Glossary 119

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Duckworth Publishers (August 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853991341
• ISBN-13: 978-1853991349
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #812,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb...and eminently readable!, February 18, 2007

By 

Tim Evanson (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Slavery in Classical Greece (Classical World Series) (Paperback)

This is one of the best books I have ever read on slavery in antiquity. Many books on slavery in ancient Greece and Rome are almost prudish in their approach to the issue. But in order to convey the true nature (and horror) of slavery, no scholarly work can ignore such aspects of slavery as sexual mores or physical violence. Vague references simply will not do.

This book digs right into the nitty-gritty of everyday slave life. Although it's a very short work, the author manages to convey the most amazing details of slave life -- right down to the kind of undergarments a slave might be permitted to wear. Unlike some works, which never really explain how slaves could rise to positions of great power and prestige and still remain slaves, this volume does so and makes it seems reasonable.

The book also places slavery in context as well. That's something missing in most other works on slavery in ancient Europe and the Middle East. The sections on Spartan slavery and how it meshed nearly seamlessly with Spartan attitudes on the upbringing of young males (especially the length passages on the "crypteia") really make history come alive.

I can't say enough good things about this book. Its superb reliance on primary sources, its terrific critical analysis of modern scholarly works, its heavy contextualization of slavery and slave-owning, its crisp and elegant writing, its no-nonsense and fact-based approach to sensitive topics: It is everything I wanted from a book about this important topic.