Slavery: A World History (Paperback)

by Milton Meltzer (Author) "It might come as a shock to some readers to learn that a number of historians consider slavery a step forward in the development of..." (more)
Key Phrases: trained slaves, slaving voyage, public slaves, West Indies, New York, New England (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Though subtitled "A World History," this work pretty much confines itself to the ancient Near East, Greece, Rome, and the West. However, it does deal with Nazi and Soviet slavery and contemporary slavery in such places as Brazil and Thailand.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Slavery is not and has never been a ”peculiar institution,” but one that is deeply rooted in the history and economy of most countries. Although it has flourished in some periods and declined in others, human bondage for profit has never been eradicated completely.In Slavery: A World History renowned author Milton Meltzer traces slavery from its origins in prehistoric hunting societies; through the boom in slave trading that reached its peak in the United States with a pre-Civil War slave population of 4,000,000; through the forced labor under the Nazi regime and in the Soviet gulags; and finally to its widespread practice in many countries today, such as the debt bondage that miners endure in Brazil or the prostitution into which women are sold in Thailand. In this detailed, compassionate account, readers will learn how slavery arose, what forms it takes, what roles slaves have performed in their societies, what everyday existence is like for those enchained, and what can be done to end the degrading practice of slavery.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; Upd Rep Su edition (August 21, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306805367
• ISBN-13: 978-0306805363
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #67,075 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive history of forgotten peoples, November 17, 2005

By	Randall (Newport, KY United States) - See all my reviews

A great book, scholarly but easy to read. Originally published in two volumes, the first half deals with slavery from ancient times to the Renaissance, the second half concentrates on the African slave trade, and also covers some of the modern uses of forced labor, gulags and other types of near-slavery. I particularly appreciated reading about slavery in earliest history, a topic that is rarely covered. The comprehensive nature of this book keeps slavery in perspective, but doesn't shy away from the worst abuses when people are classed as property.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some Needed Perspective, January 11, 2008

By	Robert L. Windemuth (PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Meltzer provides a readable overview of the role of slavery in human history. Any book that takes on a broad topic such as this is bound to come up short in some ways, but overall he does a creditable job of explaining slavery in various societies for the beginner. Too often Americans tend to particularize their history and fail to see the "big picture". Coming to understand the flow of the slave trade (where most slaves were shipped to the Islands and Brazil), how the British ended slavery, that slavery existed in South America for years after the United States Civil War and continued in the Arab countries helps put a different slant on the issue. Europeans, who are sometimes all too ready to judge the American experience, should consider Belgium's role in Africa.King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Adequate introductory text, August 6, 2003

By	Newton Ooi (Phoenix, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is a good introductory text to the topic of slavery, but not great. It is incomplete because it overemphasizes slavery in pre-industrial times, and nearly ignores slavery in the 20th century, especially in regards to prison labor. The book does have a wide geographical reach, and touches on slavery in many parts of the world. I suggest this book as a good introductory text to those without prior knowledge in the subject.