Slavery: A World History

This truly is an excellent book. The references alone refer to some 2000 references. It is a scholarly masterpiece. What surprised me was the was the widespread extent of slavery in the Ancient Greek society. This should be compulsory reading in any school that teaches antiwhite racisms masked as the history of slavery in the US. Slavery to the US started with African tribes stealing their neighbors and selling them into bondages. If you go to a Slaving fort in west africa, and I have been to Elmina, this is clearly stated.

The book is full of interesting information about man's inhumanity to all men. It fills in the details about slavery throughout history.

Very well written and researched. I only wish it had covered Asia, India, and Islam in as great of detail as it did Haiti. A must read for history lovers!

Fascinating book! You realize that most people's view of slavery is so short sighted and inaccurate - only thinking about the African American slavery in the American South. I was shocked to learn of the diverse practices of slavery around the world and throughout history. The author writes in a clear and concise way, guiding the reader through the centuries and what daily life was like. In light of our country's current debates about removing public statues of Southerners who had anything to do with slavery, this book helps you understand what a different mindset existed about slavery in the past. The book makes it clear that for most of civilization hardly anyone ever even questioned whether or not slavery was okay. That's just the way the world worked. We must be careful not to judge those who came before us by the standards of today.

It's dated (written in the 1970s) and doesn't have references for everything, but it's clear, concise, broad in scope, and intelligently written by a respectable historian. A good starting point in a study of slavery for the lay reader like me with a general interest in the subject. The many accompanying photos are tremendously enlightening. Begins with Mesopotamia (Sumer and Babylon), then Greece and Rome, where a lot more details are presented from historians of the period.

Not a "world history" since it leaves out the most extensive slave trade of the Arab Muslims in Africa - the east coast slave trade Gives an informative overview history of slavery in ancient and medieval societies which we don't hear much about. However, except for a few politically correct statements the book leaves out the huge topic of the Arab Muslim slave trade in Europe (the Muslim Barbary pirates) and especially Africa, which was very extensive and brutal - might read Humphrey J. Fisher for this, or do a web search. Surprising dishonesty in the title.

A great book, scholarly but easy to read. Originally published in two volumes, the first half deals with slavery from ancient times to the Renaissance, the second half concentrates on the African slave trade, and also covers some of the modern uses of forced labor, gulags and other types of near-slavery. I particularly appreciated reading about slavery in earliest history, a topic that is rarely covered. The comprehensive nature of this book keeps slavery in perspective, but doesn't shy away from the worst abuses when people are classed as property.

I bought this to replace my worn copy. Mr. Meltzer's research on this subject is 2nd to none. It should be required reading in American High Schools.

Very Informative and historically eye opening.

It makes one ponder our previous concepts of slavery and opens up just about all societies as to this practice in great detail. As slavery was practiced in so many places it makes one wonder about humans and morality. A must read.

An excellent book for those interested in a historical overview from the beginning of recorded history to modern times.

Excellent historically comprehensive study

Very interesting content. Should be compulsory reading !