CLAS 3207CLAS 3207Roman SlaveryRoman Slavery

Winter 2012Winter 2012

Tuesdays and ThursdaysTuesdays and Thursdays

12:30 – 1:50 in H 30412:30 – 1:50 in H 304

Dr. Ilse MuellerDr. Ilse MuellerOffice: H 339Office: H 339Tel. 474 3450 X 4423Tel. 474 3450 X 4423Email: Email: ilsem@nipissingu.caOffice Hours: Thursdays 10 – 12 Office Hours: Thursdays 10 – 12 Website: Website:

http://faculty.nipissingu.ca/ilsem/imhhttp://faculty.nipissingu.ca/ilsem/imhomeome

Course descriptionCourse description This course examines the institution of slavery at Rome. This course examines the institution of slavery at Rome.

Some of the main themes pursued in this course include Some of the main themes pursued in this course include the origins and development of Roman slavery, how it was the origins and development of Roman slavery, how it was maintained, and what its impact was on a society that maintained, and what its impact was on a society that depended depended onon slavery for its wealth and power. We will look slavery for its wealth and power. We will look at the slave supply, at what slaves did, and how they were at the slave supply, at what slaves did, and how they were treated. We will also investigate how slave ownership treated. We will also investigate how slave ownership affected Roman values and attitudes. What, for example, affected Roman values and attitudes. What, for example, was its impact on family life and sexual behaviour? was its impact on family life and sexual behaviour?

The Course will begin with an overview of Greek chattel and The Course will begin with an overview of Greek chattel and other forms of slaveryother forms of slavery

We also will make comparisons with New World slavery and We also will make comparisons with New World slavery and examine the relevance of ancient slavery to contemporary examine the relevance of ancient slavery to contemporary issues related to race and ethnicity.issues related to race and ethnicity.

Course BooksCourse Books 1. Frederick Douglass, 1. Frederick Douglass, The Narrative of the Life of The Narrative of the Life of

Frederick Douglass, An American SlaveFrederick Douglass, An American Slave; ; 2. Sandra Joshel, Slavery in the Roman World, 2. Sandra Joshel, Slavery in the Roman World,

Cambridge 2010; Cambridge 2010; 3. Keith Bradley, Slavery and Society at Rome, 3. Keith Bradley, Slavery and Society at Rome,

Cambridge 1994;Cambridge 1994; 4.  Thomas Wiedemann, Greek and Roman 4.  Thomas Wiedemann, Greek and Roman

Slavery, Routledge 1981;Slavery, Routledge 1981; 5. Brent D. Shaw, Spartacus and the Slave 5. Brent D. Shaw, Spartacus and the Slave

Wars, U of Penn Press 2001;Wars, U of Penn Press 2001; Other reading material (both primary sources and Other reading material (both primary sources and

secondary material) will be made available on the secondary material) will be made available on the course websitecourse website

The Course WebsiteThe Course Website

Dr. Mueller’s Home Page: Dr. Mueller’s Home Page: http://faculty.nipissingu.ca/ilsem/imhohttp://faculty.nipissingu.ca/ilsem/imhomeme

Check the website regularly for Check the website regularly for announcements, reading assignments, announcements, reading assignments, assignment details and DUE DATES of assignment details and DUE DATES of written assignments; written assignments;

Lecture notes outlines and important Lecture notes outlines and important termsterms

Research resources; writing resources;Research resources; writing resources;

Grade DistributionGrade Distribution

Assignment # 1: presentation 15%Assignment # 1: presentation 15%or write-up (article review)or write-up (article review)

Research Project part I: Research Project part I:

Annotated bibliography (Mar 1)Annotated bibliography (Mar 1) 10%10% Research Project Part II” Research Project Part II”

the essay:the essay: due April 10due April 10 35%35% Final Exam in-class April 5Final Exam in-class April 5 25%25% Participation/preparednessParticipation/preparedness

including reading responsesincluding reading responses 15%15%

Assignment # 1Assignment # 1 Review of an article or chapter of a bookReview of an article or chapter of a book The class will be divided into two groups: The class will be divided into two groups: Group 1 - will write a review of an article or Group 1 - will write a review of an article or

book chapter in about 3 pages and give a 5 book chapter in about 3 pages and give a 5 minute (max) presentation to the class in minute (max) presentation to the class in which he/she summarizes the main questions which he/she summarizes the main questions posed, arguments presented and conclusions posed, arguments presented and conclusions drawn. drawn.

Group 2 will write a review of about 5 pages Group 2 will write a review of about 5 pages of an article or book chapter and present it in of an article or book chapter and present it in class.class.

A Sign-up sheet will be provided in Week 2A Sign-up sheet will be provided in Week 2

How to succeed in this courseHow to succeed in this course

Don’t skip classes – attend regularlyDon’t skip classes – attend regularlyDo the reading – and hand in the Do the reading – and hand in the

responsesresponsesTake good notes and ask questions Take good notes and ask questions Start your assignments earlyStart your assignments early It’s that simple!It’s that simple!

Periodization Periodization Ancient GreeceAncient Greece

Ca. 1500 BCE – ca. 1200 BCE: Ca. 1500 BCE – ca. 1200 BCE: Mycenaean PeriodMycenaean Period (The (The first Greeks; The Trojan War).first Greeks; The Trojan War).

Ca. 1200 BCE – 1000 BCE: Collapse of Mycenaean Ca. 1200 BCE – 1000 BCE: Collapse of Mycenaean civilization.civilization.

1000 BCE – ca. 750 BCE: The 1000 BCE – ca. 750 BCE: The Dark Age.Dark Age. 750 BCE – 500 BCE: 750 BCE – 500 BCE: Archaic PeriodArchaic Period (Homer’s (Homer’s IliadIliad and and

OdysseyOdyssey; The development of the Greek ; The development of the Greek polispolis; ; Colonization).Colonization).

500 BCE – 323 BCE: 500 BCE – 323 BCE: Classical Period Classical Period (Persian Wars; (Persian Wars; Peloponnesian Wars; Alexander the Great).Peloponnesian Wars; Alexander the Great).

323 BCE – 30 BCE: 323 BCE – 30 BCE: Hellenistic Period Hellenistic Period (Roman expansion)(Roman expansion) Roman Conquest of Greece completed with Sack of Corinth Roman Conquest of Greece completed with Sack of Corinth

in 149 BCEin 149 BCE

PeriodizationPeriodizationRome (based on political constitution)Rome (based on political constitution)

753 BCE – 510 BCE – Regal Period753 BCE – 510 BCE – Regal Period510 BCE – 31 BCE – Republican 510 BCE – 31 BCE – Republican

PeriodPeriod30 (27) BCE – 476 – Imperial Period.30 (27) BCE – 476 – Imperial Period.

What is Slavery?What is Slavery?Are there different forms of Are there different forms of

slavery?slavery?

Modern (legal) definitions Modern (legal) definitions

Based on International Conventions Based on International Conventions on slavery: Leagues of Nations 1926; on slavery: Leagues of Nations 1926; United Nations 1956United Nations 1956

3 broad classifications of unfree 3 broad classifications of unfree labour: labour:

1 chattel slavery1 chattel slavery2 debt bondage2 debt bondage3 serfdom3 serfdom

Chattel SlaveryChattel Slavery

““the status or condition of a person the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership attaching to the right of ownership are exercised”are exercised”

Debt bondageDebt bondage

Status or condition arising from the Status or condition arising from the pledge by a debtor of his personal pledge by a debtor of his personal services or those of a third person services or those of a third person under his control as a security for a under his control as a security for a debt, where the value reasonably debt, where the value reasonably assessed of those services rendered is assessed of those services rendered is not applied toward the liquidation of the not applied toward the liquidation of the debt or the length and nature of those debt or the length and nature of those services are not respectively limited services are not respectively limited and definedand defined

serfdomserfdom

Tenure of land whereby the tenant is Tenure of land whereby the tenant is by law, custom or agreement bound by law, custom or agreement bound to live and labour on land belonging to live and labour on land belonging to another person and render some to another person and render some determinate services to such other determinate services to such other person, whether for reward or not, person, whether for reward or not, and is not free to change his statusand is not free to change his status

Modern social definition of Modern social definition of slaveryslavery

““the permanent, violent domination the permanent, violent domination of natally alienated and generally of natally alienated and generally dishonoured persons” dishonoured persons”

(Patterson, (Patterson, Slavery and Social DeathSlavery and Social Death 13)13)

Ancient DefinitionsAncient Definitions

Greeks and Romans did not make Greeks and Romans did not make clear distinctions between different clear distinctions between different categories of the ‘unfree’categories of the ‘unfree’

The Roman Digest 1, 5: On the Status The Roman Digest 1, 5: On the Status of Persons; 4: Florentinus, Institutes, of Persons; 4: Florentinus, Institutes,

book 9book 9 ““Being free (Being free (libertaslibertas) is the natural ability to do ) is the natural ability to do

whatever anyone pleases, unless one is prevented whatever anyone pleases, unless one is prevented from doing it either by force of by law.from doing it either by force of by law.

1. Slavery is an institution of the common law of 1. Slavery is an institution of the common law of peoples (peoples (ius gentiumius gentium) by which a person is put ) by which a person is put into the ownership (into the ownership (dominiumdominium) of somebody else, ) of somebody else, contrary to the natural order.contrary to the natural order.

2. Slaves (2. Slaves (servservi) are so called because i) are so called because commanders generally sell the people they commanders generally sell the people they capture and thereby save (capture and thereby save (servareservare) them instead ) them instead of killing them.of killing them.

3. The word for property in slaves (3. The word for property in slaves (mancipiamancipia) is ) is derived from the fact that they are captured from derived from the fact that they are captured from the enemy by force of arms (the enemy by force of arms (manu capianturmanu capiantur).” ).”

In Wiedemann # 1In Wiedemann # 1

How did Romans perceive How did Romans perceive slavery?slavery?

Romans were aware of conflicting views:Romans were aware of conflicting views: (Aristotle, Politics 1.2.15):(Aristotle, Politics 1.2.15):

“ “By nature some are free, others slaves, and By nature some are free, others slaves, and …for these it is both right and expedient that …for these it is both right and expedient that they should serve as slaves.”they should serve as slaves.”

See also Wiedemann# 235 – Dio Chrysostom See also Wiedemann# 235 – Dio Chrysostom (on Greek slaves and barbarian slaves (natural (on Greek slaves and barbarian slaves (natural slaves)slaves)

The Greek sophist Alcidamas, a pupil of The Greek sophist Alcidamas, a pupil of Gorgias, claimed that freedom was common to Gorgias, claimed that freedom was common to all and no one born to be slaveall and no one born to be slave

Questions to be askedQuestions to be asked

Were there changes over time to the Were there changes over time to the

institution of slavery in the Imperial institution of slavery in the Imperial period?period?

If yes, of what nature were these If yes, of what nature were these changes?changes?

Do we see attempts to abolish Do we see attempts to abolish slavery in Rome?slavery in Rome?

American SlaveryAmerican Slavery

Abolition took place in less than 100 Abolition took place in less than 100 yearsyears

From 1807 - Britain placed ban on From 1807 - Britain placed ban on transatlantic slave tradetransatlantic slave trade

1888 - last New World slave-owning 1888 - last New World slave-owning state – Brazil abolished slaverystate – Brazil abolished slavery

Questions?Questions?

Go to the bookstore today and buy Go to the bookstore today and buy your books: (4 are in)your books: (4 are in)

Reading for Thursday:Reading for Thursday:Wiedemann: Introduction; Wiedemann: Introduction;

Sources: Chapter 1: # 1; 2; 3;Sources: Chapter 1: # 1; 2; 3; Joshel Ch. 1, pp. 1-12Joshel Ch. 1, pp. 1-12