Roman Slavery (U02175)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCL-3-ROMSLA

The course aims to be a general introduction to the topic of forced and slave labour in the ancient world. It covers major topical issues within slavery studies, such as enslavement processes, the role/s of slaves in society, law and slavery, male and female slave labour, slave resistance and rebellion, numbers of slaves, etc. Although the course specifically focuses on the Roman world, it will also cover other selected parts of the ancient world, e.g. Greece and the Ancient Near East. The student should acquire familiarity with a) various types of slave labour exploited (e.g. agricultural, industrial and commercial), as well as the differences between public and private slavery; b) the various bodies of evidence available for the study of ancient slavery (i.e. archaeology, epigraphy, literary evidence and papyrology); and c) the various approaches taken by scholars towards the study of (ancient) slavery (e.g. comparatist, feminist, Marxist, quantitative). Because of the significance of slave and forced labour in ancient societies, the topic offers itself as a valuable introduction to the study of the ancient world as a whole, as well as to issues of labour, labour rights and movements - or their absence.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Pass in Ancient History 1 or Ancient History 2.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Ancient History, (School of History and Classics, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	15:00	15:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : Fr 1000-1050 OR 1110-1200 (Tutorial)

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course the student will have:-
- understanding of the complexity of the subject and its interrelatedness with other important subjects;
- ability to use critically a variety of different categories of material, epigraphic and literary evidence;
- understanding of some of the major historiographical issues relating to the study of slavery;
- knowledge of some important aspects of ancient slavery as a system of exploitation;
- awareness of some of the differences and similarities between ancient and modern slavery;
- bibliographical research skills to enable students to find independently additional information on aspects of the study of slavery in different periods and regions.

Transferable skills:-
- ability to deal independently with a highly complex body of material;
- ability to develop lateral thinking and to view things in a wider perspective;
- analytical skills;
- ability to concentrate on important aspects, and to make use of these in a meaningful way;
- ability to communicate own findings and opinions clearly and lucidly;
- written communication skills.