Portal:Ancient Greece/Selected article/2

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Slavery was an essential component of the development of Ancient Greece throughout its history. Most ancient writers considered slavery not only necessary but natural; neither the Stoics nor the Early Christians questioned the practice. However, some isolated debate began to appear, notably in Socratic dialogues, as early as the 4th century BC.In conformity with modern historiographical practice, this article will discuss only chattel slavery, as opposed to dependent groups such as the Penestae of Thessaly, the Spartan Helots or even the Klarotes of Crete, who were more like medieval serfs. The chattel slave is an individual deprived of liberty and forced to submit to an owner who may buy, sell, or lease him or her as one might any chattel good.The study of slavery in ancient Greece poses a number of significant methodological problems.