SLAVERY IN THE ANCIENT ROMAN WORLD
Slavery pervaded every part of life in ancient Greece and Rome. As the influential historian of the ancient economy Moses Finley put it, "there was no action or belief or institution in Greco-Roman antiquity that was not one way or other affected by the possibility that someone involved might be a slave." Focuses on slavery in ancient Rome, with due attention given to comparative material (Near Eastern, Greek, and Atlantic). Provides an overview of the institution and its role in Roman private and public life, and examines a variety of evidence (literary, material, documentary) that confronts important themes in the study of ancient slavery, e.g. ideologies of slavery and freedom; manumission; the social position of enslaved and freed people; gender, sexuality, and the family; literary depictions of slavery; and comparative slaveries.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate knowledge of ancient Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern societies and cultures. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Examine, analyze, and interpret ancient texts in translation. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Demonstrate competence in the critical methodologies of textual and material analysis with a view to social and cultural interpretation. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Compare and critique ancient Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern societies and cultures to demonstrate intercultural competence and ethical reasoning. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Describe and recall key developments in the history of slavery in the Roman world. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Develop an understanding of the methods used by historians to study Roman slavery, and practice using those methods in written and oral communication. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Formulate a research question about Roman slavery, use independent research to develop an argument answering that question and communicate your argument in a formal paper. Audience: Graduate 8. Critique ancient Roman society and culture and compare it to other societies and cultures (specifically Roman slavery compared to Atlantic slavery). Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate knowledge of ancient Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern societies and cultures. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Examine, analyze, and interpret ancient texts in translation. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Demonstrate competence in the critical methodologies of textual and material analysis with a view to social and cultural interpretation. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Compare and critique ancient Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern societies and cultures to demonstrate intercultural competence and ethical reasoning. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Describe and recall key developments in the history of slavery in the Roman world. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Develop an understanding of the methods used by historians to study Roman slavery, and practice using those methods in written and oral communication. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Formulate a research question about Roman slavery, use independent research to develop an argument answering that question and communicate your argument in a formal paper. Audience: Graduate 8. Critique ancient Roman society and culture and compare it to other societies and cultures (specifically Roman slavery compared to Atlantic slavery). Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027