Translated ancient sources from over 3000 years of Egyptian history reveal the complex story of slavery in the Nile valley.
Aimed at students, instructors and general readers interested in the experiences of enslaved persons in ancient Egypt, from the Old Kingdom to the early Islamic period. Provides nearly three hundred primary sources in translation, arranged both chronologically and thematically and accompanied by contextualising introductions.
Translated ancient sources from over 3000 years of Egyptian history reveal the complex story of slavery in the Nile valley.
Aimed at students, instructors and general readers interested in the experiences of enslaved persons in ancient Egypt, from the Old Kingdom to the early Islamic period. Provides nearly three hundred primary sources in translation, arranged both chronologically and thematically and accompanied by contextualising introductions.
Ancient Egypt offers rich sources of documentary evidence for the study of the experiences of dependent people, particularly enslaved persons, and how they changed over almost four millennia from the Old Kingdom to the early Islamic period. This volume, the work of a team of scholars spanning the full range of disciplines and languages involved, provides nearly three hundred primary sources in translation, arranged both chronologically and thematically, and is aimed principally at students, instructors and general readers. The documents reveal how people became slaves and ceased to be slaves and how they were traded and exchanged in different periods. They also detail the various kinds of work slaves undertook, whether in the household, in agriculture or in mines and quarries. Introductions explain and contextualise the sources, and particularly address the problems of varying terminology in several different languages. The book shows Egypt's place in the world history of slavery.
'An impressive achievement that will undoubtedly pave the way for future studies of Egyptian enslavement as well as comparative studies of ancient slavery more broadly.' Ella Karev, Journal of Near Eastern Studies
JANE L. ROWLANDSON was a Reader in Ancient History at King's College London. She was the author and editor of several monumental publications, including Landowners and Tenants in Roman Egypt (1996) and Women and Society in Greek and Roman Egypt (Cambridge, 1998). This current sourcebook was one of her remaining projects, and it is now dedicated to her memory. Roger S. Bagnall is Professor Emeritus of Ancient History and founding Leon Levy Director Emeritus of the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University. His publications include numerous books on the documents and social and economic history of Roman and Late Antique Egypt. He is President of the American Philosophical Society. DOROTHY J. THOMPSON is a Life Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge, a Fellow of the British Academy and Honorary President of the International Association of Papyrologists. Her books include Kerkeosiris: An Egyptian Village in the Ptolemaic Period (Cambridge, 1971), Memphis under the Ptolemies (2nd edition, 2012), and (joint with Willy Clarysse) Counting the People in Hellenistic Egypt (Cambridge, 2006).
This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.