Introduction to Global Slaveries

Slavery has existed in myriad forms for thousands of years, appearing in Ancient Greece, medieval Russia, nineteenth-century Brazil, and even the twenty-first century United States. In this course we will explore different forms of bondage such as debt labor, forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual slavery, placing each within its historical context to comprehend its defining characteristics. Students will identify the similarities between institutions of slavery that differ geographically or temporally and pinpoint their unique features. We will also assess the factors that led to slavery’s evolution or demise in different civilizations, striving to find patterns across the data.