Greek and Roman Slaveries

12 Comparing Ancient Slaveries

In this chapter, we explore some of the similarities and differences between ancient slaving systems. We start with three multilingual inscriptions, in which parallel texts in different languages show interesting variations. Do these variations reflect different linguistic choices and epigraphic traditions, or do they result from differences between ancient slave systems (12.1–3)? Continuing the debate on the distinction between slave societies and societies with slaves (Chapter 11), we assess the significance of slavery and the numbers of slaves in classical Athens (12.4–5), in Asia Minor (12.6) and Jewish (12.7) communities during the Achaemenid period, in Hellenistic Anatolia (12.10), Roman Pergamon (12.8), and late-antique Thera (12.9). We then examine major differences in the scale of slaveholdings between various periods and societies (12.11–5) and the historical significance of these differences, in particular the consequences of slaves or former slaves being large-scale slaveholders (12.14–5). There were also important differences in terms of what slaving strategies were prioritized in the various ancient societies and the consequences of these diverse choices for the structures of those societies and the conditions of their slaves (12.16–21).

Relations between masters and slaves (12.22–5) and free and slave (12.26–8) show also significant variations between the various ancient slave systems, whether one looks at relations within households ...