Slavery in the Late Roman World, AD 275–425Capitalizing on the rich historical record of late antiquity, and employing sophisticated methodologies from social and economic history, this book reinterprets the end of Roman slavery. Kyle Harper challenges traditional interpretations of a transition from antiquity to the Middle Ages, arguing instead that a deep divide runs through 'late antiquity', separating the Roman slave system from its early medieval successors. In the process, he covers the economic, social and institutional dimensions of ancient slavery and presents the most comprehensive analytical treatment of a pre-modern slave system now available. By scouring the late antique record, he has uncovered a wealth of new material, providing fresh insights into the ancient slave system, including slavery's role in agriculture and textile production, its relation to sexual exploitation, and the dynamics of social honor. By demonstrating the vitality of slavery into the later Roman empire, the author shows that Christianity triumphed amidst a genuine slave society. |
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agricultural Ambr ancient slavery Augustine Bagnall Basil of Caesarea chapter Christian Chrys church claim classical concubinage concubine Constantine CSEL Diocletian economy Egypt elite emperor enslavement Evans Grubbs 1995 evidence female slaves Foerster vol fourth century freeborn freedmen Garnsey Gregory Gregory of Nyssa household imperial inscriptions institutional John Chrysostom Journal of Roman Justinian kaª land-owners late antiquity late empire Libanius manumission manumitted marriage master McGinn Mediterranean MGH AA o«k thv oÉk Palladius papyri production prostitution relationship reproduction rescripts role Roman empire Roman law Roman slave system Roman slavery Roman society Rome rules rural Scheidel Serm sermon servile sexual honor slave family slave labor slave population slave trade slave-girl slave-owner slave-ownership slave-woman social sources structure t¼n tän textile Theodosian Code toÆv urban villa violence woman women