Slavery in the Ancient World
UndergraduateMAQ-AHIX32032026
Course information for 2026 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 19 July 2026
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 27 July 2026
- Price from
- $2,245
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Slavery in the Ancient World
About this subject
On successful completion, a student will be able to:
- Evaluate how modern scholars have interpreted the ancient evidence for slave systems in ancient societies.
- Identify theoretical and conceptual frameworks for the study of ancient slavery.
- Analyse a set of ancient sources relevant to the interpretation of slave societies in antiquity.
- Formulate interpretations of ancient slavery for an academic audience.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
This unit tackles one of the crucial aspects of ancient history – how enslaved people built the economies that powered ancient cultures. You'll discover how successful wars didn't just bring glory and territory, but also captives who became the backbone of entire economic systems. Explore how slavery looked different across various ancient cultures. Examine the complex realities of enslaved people's daily lives – how they fit into families and households, and how ancient legal systems treated humans as property that could be bought and sold. But this isn't just a story of oppression. We'll also look at how slaves gained their freedom and what happened to them afterwards, plus how the growth of slavery affected free citizens too. You'll learn that enslaved people weren't passive victims. We'll discuss the many ways they showed resistance – from small acts of defiance to major revolts that shook entire empires. You'll come away understanding that in the most oppressive systems, people found ways to maintain their humanity and fight for their dignity. This unit will challenge you to think critically about power, economics, and human rights in the ancient world.
- Literature Review (30%)
- Qualitative Analysis (30%)
- Case study/analysis (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
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- QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 9
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
Others
Pre-requisite 120cp at 1000 level or above
NCCW (2020 and onwards)
AHIS3203 Slavery in the Ancient World
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMAQ-HIS-DEG
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