Slavery in the Ancient Greece.pptx

A presentation created during the Youth Exchange Dawn of Modern Slavery: Dusk of Human Rights, financed by Erasmus+ through European Union. More information about the international mobility programs here:

https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-individuals/youth-exchanges

1. SLAVERY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN ANCIENT GREECE

2. T reating other humans as property was part and parcel of Greek life, with enslaved people ‘used’ across virtually all areas of society. But, as the property of their master, Athenian slaves could still be sold off in the blink of an eye. Even  Aristotel , arguably one of Athens’ most progressive thinkers, referred to enslaved people as  ktêma empsuchon  – a phrase that roughly translates as ‘animate property’, or ‘property that breathes’.

3. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SLAVES HOYSEWORKERS SLAVES: they lived in best conditions since they were not in chains WOMEN SLAVES WORKING IN THE FIELDS ON THE COUNTRYSIDE SLAVES WORKING IN A MINE CHAINED SLAVES ON THE SHIPS IERODOULIA: from ieros  sacred and doulos  slave, a slave employed in the temple Besides that between slaves there were also teachers, book-keepers: their prices were depended on the market

4. How people became slaves: Even if a man was born as a free man, there were various ways they could become slaves: SLAVERY FROM ABANDONMENT: in some cases, children were abandoned on a mountain by their parents so someone can fond them and take them SLAVERY BECAUSE OF DEBT: if a debtor could not refund the creditor, he could become his property ETHNIC SLAVERY COMMERCIAL SLAVERY SLAVERY BECAUSE OF WAR (ANDRAPON): if someone was captured in the battle by an enemy, he would become their slave

5. RIGHTS AND DUTIES FOR SLAVES IN ANCIENT GREECE They can’t fight They can’t participate in legislative assemblies The slaves only had only a few guarantees: They could not be killed without a trial They could not be sold outside of their country The only positive perspective was the EMANCIPATION: a slave can buy his or her freedom by money or as a reward for fighting in the navy or the army

6. In ancient Greece, slaves were treated like pieces of property. For Aristotle, as we already mentioned, they were 'a piece of property that breathes'. They enjoyed different degrees of freedom and were treated kindly or cruelly depending on the personality of the owner. They all did domestic chores, acted as travel companions and even delivered messages.

7. SPARTA Historians separate chattel slavery (the enslaved person is legally rendered the personal property (chattel) of the slave owner) and helotic slavery (helots were privately owned slaves, not communally controlled serfs). there were more helots than spartans and they constantly threatened rebellions against the spartans . sparta needed strong military to hold helots down. sparta should be seen as the most extreme example of a ‘slave society’ in the Greek world

8. ATHENS Athens had the largest slave population, with as many as 80,000 in the 5th and 6th centuries BC, with an average of three or four slaves per household, except in poor families. Slaves were legally prohibited from participating in politics, which was reserved for citizens. Athens was the city with arguably the most freedom for its citizens of any ancient civilization, yet relied heavily on slave labor

9. Thank you for your attention The Greek team