Spring 2010

GK 385 • Slavery

Course Description

Slaves and other 'unfree' peoples occupy an ambiguous place in the history and archaeology of the ancient world. On the one hand, these groups are prominent on stage as stock characters in the dramas and comedies of Greece and Rome, while on the other hand, their legal status, daily lives, and actual experiences are often obscure. In this course, we will explore the spectrum of groups who occupied this liminal space as ‘unfree’ peoples through both the historical and archaeological evidence. Topics will include case studies in the archaeology of ancient slavery, comparative approaches, the economics of slavery, religion and slavery, gender, and several others. A deliberately interdisciplinary approach is a central tenet of this course and we encourage student participation from a broad range of specializations

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