Slavery in History

A sweeping survey of human societies, this work follows the thread of slavery from ancient Egypt through the Greeks, Romans, and later European peoples, even reaching the Chinese and early American colonies. By arranging the material chronologically and geographically, the author lets readers see how the practice was adopted, adapted, and justified in vastly different cultures. The introductory pages lay out a clear methodological stance: slavery is not an inevitable law of nature but a social disease whose roots can be traced and its impact measured.

The narrative argues that history repeatedly shows the corrosive effects of bondage on both the enslaved and the enslaver, contrasting the natural human inclination toward freedom with the artificial constraints of chattel systems. Using comparative examples, the book highlights how political, religious, and economic arguments have been marshaled to defend the institution, while also pointing to recurring patterns of resistance and reform. Readers come away with a deeper appreciation of how past societies grappled with a problem that still echoes in modern debates.