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Slavery in the Late Roman World, AD 275–425 Illustrated Edition, Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

Capitalizing on the rich historical record of late antiquity, and employing sophisticated methodologies from social and economic history, this book reinterprets the end of Roman slavery. Kyle Harper challenges traditional interpretations of a transition from antiquity to the Middle Ages, arguing instead that a deep divide runs through 'late antiquity', separating the Roman slave system from its early medieval successors. In the process, he covers the economic, social and institutional dimensions of ancient slavery and presents the most comprehensive analytical treatment of a pre-modern slave system now available. By scouring the late antique record, he has uncovered a wealth of new material, providing fresh insights into the ancient slave system, including slavery's role in agriculture and textile production, its relation to sexual exploitation, and the dynamics of social honor. By demonstrating the vitality of slavery into the later Roman empire, the author shows that Christianity triumphed amidst a genuine slave society.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kyle Harper is Assistant Professor in the Department of Classics and Letters at the University of Oklahoma, where he teaches a range of courses on Greek and Roman civilization and the rise of Christianity. He has published articles on social and institutional aspects of later Roman history in the Journal of Roman Studies, Classical Quarterly and Historia.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005OYKE08
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press; Illustrated edition (May 12, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4333 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Up to 4 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 628 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1107640814
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

About the author

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Kyle Harper
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Kyle Harper is a historian of the classical world at his alma mater, the University of Oklahoma.

He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Letters from OU and then received his Ph.D. in History from Harvard University in 2007.

His first book was published by Cambridge University Press as Slavery in the Late Roman World, AD 275-425. The book was awarded the James Henry Breasted Prize by the American Historical Association and the Outstanding Publication Award from the Classical Association of the Middle West and South. His second book, From Shame to Sin: The Christian Transformation of Sexual Morality was published by Harvard University Press in 2013 and received the Award for Excellence in Historical Studies from the American Academy of Religion. Kyle's third book, The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire, appeared in 2017. The book argues that climate change and pandemic disease were integral to the fall of the Roman Empire. It has been translated into twelve languages. In October of 2021, his fourth book, Plagues upon the Earth: Disease and the Course of Human History, will appear.

A committed teacher, Kyle offers a range of courses on ancient history and early Christianity.

He blogs at kyleharper.net.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
23 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's research and analysis insightful. They describe it as a well-written, factual work that fills in gaps in the field. Readers praise the author's skill in writing and consider the book readable.

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4 customers mention "Elucidation"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's elucidation useful. They praise the author's extraordinary research and erudition. The scope of the research and analysis fill many gaps in the field. The book provides an insightful social context and is considered one of the best on Roman social history.

"...It is a factual book, based on extraordinary research done on original documents in their languages, with facts and analysis making the case - no..." Read more

"...The scope of research and erudition of the author is astounding; plus it is so beautifully written that the eye is drawn across the page..." Read more

"...A revolutionary book in the field." Read more

"...have not received due attention and this work by a literary-social historian fills so many gaps." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and well-written. They say it contains what they want to know and is amazing.

"Kyle Harper’s books are amazing and this one deserves being read by anybody interested is what has driven Western politic and social mores...." Read more

"...and erudition of the author is astounding; plus it is so beautifully written that the eye is drawn across the page effortlessly...." Read more

"This dense but readable tome contained just what I wanted to know about ancient slavery...." Read more

"...beyond an enjoyable read unlike his other book on Rome which was a great read. Unless you are a professor or graduate student don’t waste your money." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024
    Kyle Harper’s books are amazing and this one deserves being read by anybody interested is what has driven Western politic and social mores. It is a factual book, based on extraordinary research done on original documents in their languages, with facts and analysis making the case - no polemics in this book. The extraordinary sense of entitlement of Roman male elites is clearly brought on the based of the source materials used, and shows that slavery was an integral part of Roman economic development and predominance.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2013
    This is one of the best books on Roman social history that I've ever read. The scope of research and erudition of the author is astounding; plus it is so beautifully written that the eye is drawn across the page effortlessly. Not only does Professor Harper limn the institution of slavery in all its variations and brutality, he also elucidates the social context in which it arose, thrived and ultimately eroded. One comes away from this book with a sense of what life was like for Romans, both slave and free, male and female, Christian and pagan, during the "long fourth century". This is a book I will read and reread for many years.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2021
    This dense but readable tome contained just what I wanted to know about ancient slavery. Perceptive historians will find much here that illuminates current debates concerning US and world history. Enemies of colonialism and also of CRT and free thought beware!
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2017
    Harper's work challenges a long tradition of historiography that tries to trace the 'decline' of Roman slavery beginning with the third century. Instead, he argues that the late Roman society was a slave society, especially when it came to manufacturing for sale (and thus the wealth of the elites). In addition, restores women to their place in the slave system by showing that there were many female slavs, who birthed new slaves, wove textiles, and were systematically sexually exploited. A revolutionary book in the field.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2014
    There are so many areas of early Christianity that have not received due attention and this work by a literary-social historian fills so many gaps.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019
    This is a very hard, down in the weeds academic read. Unless you are in the top 2%(like my grandfather Gardner Murphy) of the worlds intelligence this book will be beyond an enjoyable read unlike his other book on Rome which was a great read. Unless you are a professor or graduate student don’t waste your money.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2021
    So much light and information that I've not found elsewhere. Harper knows the extensive literature of the late Roman period, and draws from it riches of information that shed clear light on the entire gamut of issues relating to slavery in that era. Discussions of theory and scholarship get thick sometimes--skip paragraphs that bore you or seem above your head. A very important book.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Annemarie
    3.0 out of 5 stars nogal saai en langdradig
    Reviewed in Germany on August 26, 2020
    Ik kocht dit boek nadat ik 'The fate of Rome' had gelezen. Dat is een vreselijk spannend boek. Een echte pageturner, vooral in tijden van corona.
    Maar dit boek is heel saai en langdradig. Het is een proefschrift en mijn ervaring is dat proefschriften vaak lang van stof zijn. Ik heb het na 40 blz teruggezet in de kast. Misschien later.
  • Alfonso Vigil-Escalera
    4.0 out of 5 stars Una obra importante y necesaria
    Reviewed in Spain on July 9, 2013
    La tesis del autor se encuentra a mi juicio bien argumentada. La obra esta bien escrita, con claridad en la exposición. El autor maneja una bibliografía reciente y apropiada, equlibrada entre las fuentes narrativas y arqueológicas.

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