Slavery in ancient and modern times

Maria Manoura
Georgios Papadakis
John Ksyradakis
Eleutheria Varouchaki
Marisyni Patelarou
John Padouvas
Slavery in ancient Greece was a condition that
—
theoretically anyone could be part of (either by
debt or war)
Many slaves were well educated and had a high
—
social status
Many of them could earn their freedom by
—
participating in battles
The way that slaves were treated was
—
sometimes humiliating
Many ancient Greeks did not approve of slavery
—
 Slavery was taking place at times of war and many human beings were
enslaved during wars.

Many Greeks were slaved not only by barbarians but by other Greeks.

In contrast to slavery in the USA during 18th and 19th centuries, in ancient
Greece to be enslaved was a landmark of human condition.

Also in ancient Greece a slave might be well educated, while in the USA
an educated slave was inconceivable.
The slaves of the ancient world had greater chance to have better education,
freedom, recognized their human nature and to enhance their social status,
in contrast to those of the American South. However, they were victims of
inhuman violence by their bosses and by society.
Slaves were living in awful conditions which Greeks accepted but not supported,
as they conceived of slavery as something tragic for a human being.

Trading slaves was not something common in ancient Greece, because Greeks
believed that trading slaves was punished by gods.
● In ancient Greek drama slaves were performed too.
● The audience felt compassion and sorry for them.
● Slaves were performed in Euripides plays.
● Ancient Greek lifestyle was reflected in ancient tragedies and
comedies.
● The laws for slaves were by far more strict by the already existing
ones that time.
Ancient Greek conception of equality was very different from other ancient civilizations:

● They believed that for someone to be born Greek or barbarian was a matter of chance.

● They believed that humans are free by nature.

● They believed that all humans were equals.

Such beliefs were inconceivable outside Greek civilization.