Slavery: Antiquity and Its Legacy (Ancients & Moderns)

"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is perhaps the most famous phrase of all in the American Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson's momentous words are closely related to the French concept of "liberte, egalite, fraternitye"; and both ideas incarnate a notion of freedom as inalienable human right that in the modern world we expect to take for granted. In the ancient world, by contrast, the concepts of freedom and equality had little purchase. Athenians, Spartans and Romans all possessed slaves or helots (unfree bondsmen), and society was unequal at every stratum. Why, then, if modern society abominates slavery, does what antiquity thought about serfdom matter today? 'life, Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness' Is Perhaps The Most Famous Phrase Of All In The American Declaration Of Independence. Thomas Jefferson's Momentous Words Are Closely Related To The French Concept Of 'liberte, Egalite, Fraternite'; And Both Ideas Incarnate A Notion Of Freedom As Inalienable Human Right That In The Modern World We Expect To Take For Granted. In The Ancient World, By Contrast, The Concepts Of Freedom And Equality Had Little Purchase. Athenians, Spartans And Romans All Possessed Slaves Or Helots (unfree Bondsmen), And Society Was Unequal At Every Stratum. Why, Then, If Modern Society Abominates Slavery, Does What Antiquity Thought About Serfdom Matter Today? Page Dubois Shows That Slavery, Far From Being Extinct, Is Alive And Well In The Contemporary Era. Slaves Are Associated Not Just With The Colosseum Of Ancient Rome, And Films Depicting Ancient Slaves, But Also With Californian Labor Factories And South Asian Sweatshops, While Young Women And Children Appear Increasingly Vulnerable To Sexual Trafficking. Juxtaposing Such Modern Experiences Of Bondage (economic Or Sexual) With Slavery In Antiquity, The Author Explores The Writings On The Subject Of Aristotle, Plautus, Terence And Aristophanes. She Also Examines The Case Of Spartacus, Famous Leader Of A Roman Slave Rebellion, And Relates Ancient Notions Of Liberation To The All-too-common Immigrant Experience Of Enslavement To A Globalized World Of Rampant Corporatism And Exploitative Capitalism. -- Publishers Description. Living Slaves -- Racialised Slavery -- Ancient Ideologies -- Ancient Slavery -- Spartacus And Gladiator : Slaves In Film. Page Dubois. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 145-152) And Index. 'Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'is perhaps the most famous phrase of all in the American Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson's momentous words are closely related to the French concept of'liberté, égalité, fraternityé'; and both ideas incarnate a notion of freedom as inalienable human right that in the modern world we expect to take for granted. In the ancient world, by contrast, the concepts of freedom and equality had little purchase. Athenians, Spartans and Romans all possessed slaves or helots (unfree bondsmen), and society was unequal at every stratum. Why, then, if modern society abominates slavery, does what antiquity thought about serfdom matter today? Page duBois shows that slavery, far from being extinct, is alive and well in the contemporary era. Slaves are associated not just with the Colosseum of ancient Rome, and films depicting ancient slaves, but also with Californian labor factories and south Asian sweatshops, while young women and children appear increasingly vulnerable to sexual trafficking. Juxtaposing such modern experiences of bondage (economic or sexual) with slavery in antiquity, the author explores the writings on the subject of Aristotle, Plautus, Terence and Aristophanes. She also examines the case of Spartacus, famous leader of a Roman slave rebellion, and relates ancient notions of liberation to the all-too-common immigrant experience of enslavement to a globalized world of rampant corporatism and exploitative capitalism. "'Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' is perhaps the most famous phrase of all in the American Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson's momentous words are closely related to the French concept of 'liberte, egalite, fraternite'; and both ideas incarnate a notion of freedom as inalienable human right that in the modern world we expect to take for granted. In the ancient world, by contrast, the concepts of freedom and equality had little purchase. Athenians, Spartans and Romans all possessed slaves or helots (unfree bondsmen), and society was unequal at every stratum. Why, then, if modern society abominates slavery, does what antiquity thought about serfdom matter today? Page duBois shows that slavery, far from being extinct, is alive and well in the contemporary era. Slaves are associated not just with the Colosseum of ancient Rome but also with Californian labour factories and south Asian sweatshops, while young women and children appear increasingly vulnerable to sexual trafficking. Applying such modern experiences of bondage (economic or sexual) to slavery in antiquity, the author explores the writings on the subject of Aristotle, Plautus, Terence and Aristophanes. She also examines the case of Spartacus, famous leader of a Roman slave rebellion, and relates ancient notions of liberation to the all-too-common immigrant experience of enslavement to a globalized world of rampant corporatism and exploitative capitalism."--Bloomsbury Publishing. "Life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness" is perhaps the most famous phrase in the American Declaration of Independence. Th Jefferson's momentous words are closely related to the French concept of "liberte, egalite, fraternity ". Both ideas incarnate a notion of freedom as inalienable right that in the modern world we expect to take for granted. In the ancient world, by contrast, the concepts of freedom & equality had little purchase. Athenians, Spartans & Romans all possessed slaves or helots (unfree bondsmen). Society was unequal at every stratum. Why, then, if modern society abominates slavery, does what antiquity thought about serfdom matter today? Page duBois shows that slavery, far from being extinct, is alive & well in the contemporary era. Slaves are associated not just with the Colosseum of ancient Rome & films depicting ancient slaves, but also with Californian labor factories & S. Asian sweatshops, while young women & children appear increasingly vulnerable to sexual trafficking. Juxtaposing such modern experiences of bondage (economic or sexual) with slavery in antiquity, the author explores the writings on the subject of Aristotle, Plautus, Terence & Aristophanes. She also examines the case of Spartacus, leader of a Roman slave rebellion, & relates ancient notions of liberation to the all-too-common immigrant experience of enslavement to a globalized world of rampant corporatism & exploitative capitalism. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Preface 11 Chapter I: Living Slaves 15 Slavery Defined 17 Numbers and Places 20 The Poetics of Slavery 21 Slavery in the Media 23 Slavery and ‘Race’ 25 Abolition: Or, What is to be Done? 26 Differences 31 Chapter II: Racialised Slavery 37 Sherley Anne Williams’ Dessa Rose 39 The Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself 41 The History of Racialised Slavery 44 Slaves in America 51 Frederick Douglass 57 Legacies of Racialised Slavery 59 Chapter III: Ancient Ideologies 64 Slavery in the Hebrew Bible 65 Slavery in Ancient Greek Political Theory 68 Slavery in the New Testament and in Christianity 80 Ante-bellum Arguments for Slavery in North America 83 Chapter IV: Ancient Slavery 90 Slavery in Israel 91 Slavery in Greece 92 Slavery in Rome 108 Chapter V: Spartacus and Gladiator: Slaves in Film 123 The Ten Commandments 127 Spartacus 134 Gladiator 145 Epilogue 154 Some Suggestions For Further Reading 159 Notes 160 Index 167