Routledge - Serfdom and Slavery: Studies in Legal Bondage

Explore the historical evolution of servitude through Serfdom and Slavery: Studies in Legal Bondage. This scholarly volume by Routledge provides a deep comparison of two distinct forms of legal bondage across Western civilization. By examining cultures in Europe and the New World from ancient times through the modern period, this book offers a comprehensive look at how these systems functioned and eventually ended. The text is structured to provide both broad historical context and detailed specificities. A team of scholars contributes 17 unique essays that examine the development and impact of serfdom and slavery on European society. This collection is essential for students and historians looking to understand the legal and social frameworks that defined human bondage across different eras and regions. Through diverse case studies, the book covers a wide chronological and geographical range. Readers can trace these legal structures from classical Greece and medieval England to early modern Brandenburg and nineteenth-century Russia. This comparative approach helps clarify the unique nature of each system within the broader history of Western civilization.