3. Slavery in Classical Greece
In classical Greece, slavery was essential to both economic productivity and social structure. Most slaves were captured in war or born into slavery, serving as domestic workers, artisans, or agricultural laborers. Both Athens and Sparta relied on large enslaved populations—Athenian households often owned several slaves, while Sparta’s helots worked the land under harsh conditions. Slavery’s prevalence shaped Greek society and fueled achievements in art, philosophy, and democracy.
