Skip to main content

Ancient Slavery

Time and Location

Wednesdays 8:00 pm, AdobeConnect classroom

Description and Goals

The first part of this class will be a broad overview of slavery in the Greek and Roman world, focusing on literature and ideology.  Garnsey will be our primary text for this part.  Students will choose an ancient ‘generic’ free avatar, and respond to the assigned readings as their avatar.  Examples of possible avatars: wealthy landowning aristocrat, subsistence farmer, merchant, shopkeeper, soldier, wife/widow/female relative of relevant male character.

The second part of the class will focus more on ancient Rome and on particulars of life for Roman slaves.  Bradley will be our primary text for the second part.  Students will choose a specific Roman slave avatar and respond to the assigned readings as their avatar; this can be a historical or literary character, or entirely fictional.  Examples of possible avatars: Tiro, Trimalchio, gladiator.    The optional text, Slave Systems: Ancient and Modern, will be discussed towards the end of the class.

Syllabus/Schedule

click above link for pdf

Homework

see syllabus/schedule

Final Grades

see syllabus/schedule

Grading Scale

see syllabus/schedule

Attendance and Late Policy

Notify me of scheduling conflicts and for class recordings/make-up work.