1. CLAS 3207 Roman Slavery Winter 2012 Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30 – 1:50 in H 304

2. Dr. Ilse Mueller Dr. Ilse Mueller Office: H 339 Office: H 339 Tel. 474 3450 X 4423 Tel. 474 3450 X 4423 Email: ilsem@nipissingu.ca Email: ilsem@nipissingu.cailsem@nipissingu.ca Office Hours: Thursdays 10 – 12 Office Hours: Thursdays 10 – 12 Website: http://faculty.nipissingu.ca/ilsem/imhome Website: http://faculty.nipissingu.ca/ilsem/imhome

3. Course description This course examines the institution of slavery at Rome. Some of the main themes pursued in this course include the origins and development of Roman slavery, how it was maintained, and what its impact was on a society that depended on slavery for its wealth and power. We will look at the slave supply, at what slaves did, and how they were treated. We will also investigate how slave ownership affected Roman values and attitudes. What, for example, was its impact on family life and sexual behaviour? This course examines the institution of slavery at Rome. Some of the main themes pursued in this course include the origins and development of Roman slavery, how it was maintained, and what its impact was on a society that depended on slavery for its wealth and power. We will look at the slave supply, at what slaves did, and how they were treated. We will also investigate how slave ownership affected Roman values and attitudes. What, for example, was its impact on family life and sexual behaviour? The Course will begin with an overview of Greek chattel and other forms of slavery The Course will begin with an overview of Greek chattel and other forms of slavery We also will make comparisons with New World slavery and examine the relevance of ancient slavery to contemporary issues related to race and ethnicity. We also will make comparisons with New World slavery and examine the relevance of ancient slavery to contemporary issues related to race and ethnicity.

4. Course Books 1. Frederick Douglass, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave; 1. Frederick Douglass, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave; 2. Sandra Joshel, Slavery in the Roman World, Cambridge 2010; 2. Sandra Joshel, Slavery in the Roman World, Cambridge 2010; 3. Keith Bradley, Slavery and Society at Rome, Cambridge 1994; 3. Keith Bradley, Slavery and Society at Rome, Cambridge 1994; 4. Thomas Wiedemann, Greek and Roman Slavery, Routledge 1981; 4. Thomas Wiedemann, Greek and Roman Slavery, Routledge 1981; 5. Brent D. Shaw, Spartacus and the Slave Wars, U of Penn Press 2001; 5. Brent D. Shaw, Spartacus and the Slave Wars, U of Penn Press 2001; Other reading material (both primary sources and secondary material) will be made available on the course website Other reading material (both primary sources and secondary material) will be made available on the course website

5. The Course Website Dr. Mueller’s Home Page: http://faculty.nipissingu.ca/ilsem/imhome Dr. Mueller’s Home Page: http://faculty.nipissingu.ca/ilsem/imhome Check the website regularly for announcements, reading assignments, assignment details and DUE DATES of written assignments; Check the website regularly for announcements, reading assignments, assignment details and DUE DATES of written assignments; Lecture notes outlines and important terms Lecture notes outlines and important terms Research resources; writing resources; Research resources; writing resources;

6. Grade Distribution Assignment # 1: presentation 15% or write-up (article review) Assignment # 1: presentation 15% or write-up (article review) Research Project part I: Research Project part I: Annotated bibliography (Mar 1)10% Annotated bibliography (Mar 1)10% Research Project Part II” Research Project Part II” the essay:due April 1035% Final Exam in-class April 525% Final Exam in-class April 525% Participation/preparedness Participation/preparedness including reading responses15% including reading responses15%

7. Assignment # 1 Review of an article or chapter of a book Review 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 book chapter in about 3 pages and give a 5 minute (max) presentation to the class in which he/she summarizes the main questions posed, arguments presented and conclusions drawn. Group 1 - will write a review of an article or book chapter in about 3 pages and give a 5 minute (max) presentation to the class in which he/she summarizes the main questions posed, arguments presented and conclusions drawn. Group 2 will write a review of about 5 pages of an article or book chapter and present it in class. Group 2 will write a review of about 5 pages of an article or book chapter and present it in class. A Sign-up sheet will be provided in Week 2 A Sign-up sheet will be provided in Week 2

8. How to succeed in this course Don’t skip classes – attend regularly Don’t skip classes – attend regularly Do the reading – and hand in the responses Do the reading – and hand in the responses Take good notes and ask questions Take good notes and ask questions Start your assignments early Start your assignments early It’s that simple! It’s that simple!

9. Periodization Ancient Greece Ca. 1500 BCE – ca. 1200 BCE: Mycenaean Period (The first Greeks; The Trojan War). Ca. 1500 BCE – ca. 1200 BCE: Mycenaean Period (The first Greeks; The Trojan War). Ca. 1200 BCE – 1000 BCE: Collapse of Mycenaean civilization. Ca. 1200 BCE – 1000 BCE: Collapse of Mycenaean civilization. 1000 BCE – ca. 750 BCE: The Dark Age. 1000 BCE – ca. 750 BCE: The Dark Age. 750 BCE – 500 BCE: Archaic Period (Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey; The development of the Greek polis; Colonization). 750 BCE – 500 BCE: Archaic Period (Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey; The development of the Greek polis; Colonization). 500 BCE – 323 BCE: Classical Period (Persian Wars; Peloponnesian Wars; Alexander the Great). 500 BCE – 323 BCE: Classical Period (Persian Wars; Peloponnesian Wars; Alexander the Great). 323 BCE – 30 BCE: Hellenistic Period (Roman expansion) 323 BCE – 30 BCE: Hellenistic Period (Roman expansion) Roman Conquest of Greece completed with Sack of Corinth in 149 BCE Roman Conquest of Greece completed with Sack of Corinth in 149 BCE

10. Periodization Rome (based on political constitution) 753 BCE – 510 BCE – Regal Period 753 BCE – 510 BCE – Regal Period 510 BCE – 31 BCE – Republican Period 510 BCE – 31 BCE – Republican Period 30 (27) BCE – 476 – Imperial Period. 30 (27) BCE – 476 – Imperial Period.

11. What is Slavery? Are there different forms of slavery?

12. Modern (legal) definitions Based on International Conventions on slavery: Leagues of Nations 1926; United Nations 1956 Based on International Conventions on slavery: Leagues of Nations 1926; United Nations 1956 3 broad classifications of unfree labour: 3 broad classifications of unfree labour: 1 chattel slavery 1 chattel slavery 2 debt bondage 2 debt bondage 3 serfdom 3 serfdom

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

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

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

16. Modern social definition of slavery “the permanent, violent domination of natally alienated and generally dishonoured persons” “the permanent, violent domination of natally alienated and generally dishonoured persons” (Patterson, Slavery and Social Death 13) (Patterson, Slavery and Social Death 13)

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

18. The Roman Digest 1, 5: On the Status of Persons; 4: Florentinus, Institutes, book 9 “Being free (libertas) is the natural ability to do whatever anyone pleases, unless one is prevented from doing it either by force of by law. “Being free (libertas) is the natural ability to do whatever anyone pleases, unless one is prevented from doing it either by force of by law. 1. Slavery is an institution of the common law of peoples (ius gentium) by which a person is put into the ownership (dominium) of somebody else, contrary to the natural order. 1. Slavery is an institution of the common law of peoples (ius gentium) by which a person is put into the ownership (dominium) of somebody else, contrary to the natural order. 2. Slaves (servi) are so called because commanders generally sell the people they capture and thereby save (servare) them instead of killing them. 2. Slaves (servi) are so called because commanders generally sell the people they capture and thereby save (servare) them instead of killing them. 3. The word for property in slaves (mancipia) is derived from the fact that they are captured from the enemy by force of arms (manu capiantur).” 3. The word for property in slaves (mancipia) is derived from the fact that they are captured from the enemy by force of arms (manu capiantur).” In Wiedemann # 1 In Wiedemann # 1

19. How did Romans perceive 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 …for these it is both right and expedient that they should serve as slaves.” “By nature some are free, others slaves, and …for these it is both right and expedient that they should serve as slaves.” See also Wiedemann# 235 – Dio Chrysostom (on Greek slaves and barbarian slaves (natural slaves) See also Wiedemann# 235 – Dio Chrysostom (on Greek slaves and barbarian slaves (natural slaves) The Greek sophist Alcidamas, a pupil of Gorgias, claimed that freedom was common to all and no one born to be slave The Greek sophist Alcidamas, a pupil of Gorgias, claimed that freedom was common to all and no one born to be slave

20. Questions to be asked Were there changes over time to the institution of slavery in the Imperial period? Were there changes over time to the institution of slavery in the Imperial period? If yes, of what nature were these changes? If yes, of what nature were these changes? Do we see attempts to abolish slavery in Rome? Do we see attempts to abolish slavery in Rome?

21. American Slavery Abolition took place in less than 100 years Abolition took place in less than 100 years From 1807 - Britain placed ban on transatlantic slave trade From 1807 - Britain placed ban on transatlantic slave trade 1888 - last New World slave-owning state – Brazil abolished slavery 1888 - last New World slave-owning state – Brazil abolished slavery

22. Questions? Go to the bookstore today and buy your books: (4 are in) Go to the bookstore today and buy 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. 1-12 Joshel Ch. 1, pp. 1-12