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Slaves and Slavegirls in the Cairo Geniza Records

1962; Brill; Volume: 9; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/157005862x00565

1570-0585

S.D. Goitein,

Classical Antiquity Studies

IN order to be able to understand the economic role and the social position of the slaves in the society reflected in the Geniza records, we must free ourselves entirely of the notions familiar to us from our readings about life on American plantations or in ancient Greece or Rome. Slavery in the period under consideration was neither industrial nor agricultural; with the exception of the armies, which were largely composed of mercenaries, who were legally slaves, it was not collective, but individual. It was a personal service in the widest sense of the word, which, when the master served was of high rank or wealthy, carried with it great economic advantages, as well as social prestige.