Ancient Egypt

In ancient Egypt, slaves were often prisoners of war or people captured from neighboring regions. They worked on massive building projects, including the construction of the Great Pyramids and temples. These monumental structures were not only symbols of Egyptian power but also representations of the divine order, with slaves providing the labor that enabled their creation.

Egyptian slaves were primarily involved in agriculture, as well as in the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure required to sustain the empire. The Nile River, which was crucial to Egyptian agriculture, required extensive irrigation systems and canals that were often constructed by enslaved individuals. While some slaves may have had relatively high status within Egyptian society, most were subjected to grueling labor, often working in harsh conditions.

Greece and the Role of Slaves in the Classical World

Slavery in ancient Greece was widespread, and slaves were employed in almost every sector of Greek society. The city-state of Athens, for instance, relied heavily on slaves for both domestic service and economic activities, especially in the fields of mining and pottery. Slaves were also crucial in the running of the Greek economy by manning the workshops and producing goods that were traded across the Mediterranean. The vast network of trade that allowed Athens and other Greek states to flourish was dependent on the availability of slave labor.

In Sparta, the treatment of slaves was even harsher. Known as helots, these slaves were primarily responsible for agricultural labor, which allowed the Spartan citizen-soldiers to focus on military training. The fear of helot uprisings was a constant source of tension in Sparta, and this brutal system played a critical role in maintaining the militaristic society that dominated much of Greece. shutdown123