Classical Attica

This chapter analyses the contribution of slave labour to Athens’ citizenry during the classical period. It shows how slaves were distributed across the wealth spectrum and the role of market exchange in providing ready access to slaves at low prices. The second part of the chapter analyses the contribution of slave labour to the liturgical class and shows that although slavery was indispensable to elite income, it played a less dominant role for the Athenian elite than for the Spartan elite. The third part of the chapter explores sub-elite slave ownership, and provides a critique of E. M. Wood’s view that slaves played little role in sub-elite agriculture.

Aesthetics · Art · Development economics · Economics · Elite · Period (music) · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Classical Antiquity Studies · Law