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From Conquest to Capital: Slavery Persistence and Perception across History

Biscione, Eleonora LU (2025) EKHS42 20251
Department of Economic History
Abstract
This thesis investigates the historical development and contemporary persistence of slavery
through a qualitative, comparative analysis of Roman, US, and modern forced labour
systems. It addresses how the institutionalization and perception of slavery and the enslaved
individual change over time and proposes race as the key difference between early modern
and ancient forms of slavery. The research employs an interdisciplinary multiple case-study
method and various narrative, historical, legal, and economic resources to trace the
evolving slavery dynamics. The analysis shows that racialization marked a structural shift in
early modern history, with a reduction in recognition of enslaved people’s humanity and
potential. Modern... (More)
This thesis investigates the historical development and contemporary persistence of slavery
through a qualitative, comparative analysis of Roman, US, and modern forced labour
systems. It addresses how the institutionalization and perception of slavery and the enslaved
individual change over time and proposes race as the key difference between early modern
and ancient forms of slavery. The research employs an interdisciplinary multiple case-study
method and various narrative, historical, legal, and economic resources to trace the
evolving slavery dynamics. The analysis shows that racialization marked a structural shift in
early modern history, with a reduction in recognition of enslaved people’s humanity and
potential. Modern slavery persists through mechanisms of institutional neglect, economic
coercion, and global inequality, in addition to discriminatory sentiments embedded in
national and international institutions. The findings highlight the need to confront and take
apart structural conditions enabling modern exploitation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Biscione, Eleonora LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS42 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
9207999
date added to LUP
2025-10-27 08:30:51
date last changed
2025-10-27 08:30:51
@misc{9207999,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates the historical development and contemporary persistence of slavery 
through a qualitative, comparative analysis of Roman, US, and modern forced labour 
systems. It addresses how the institutionalization and perception of slavery and the enslaved 
individual change over time and proposes race as the key difference between early modern 
and ancient forms of slavery. The research employs an interdisciplinary multiple case-study 
method and various narrative, historical, legal, and economic resources to trace the
evolving slavery dynamics. The analysis shows that racialization marked a structural shift in 
early modern history, with a reduction in recognition of enslaved people’s humanity and 
potential. Modern slavery persists through mechanisms of institutional neglect, economic 
coercion, and global inequality, in addition to discriminatory sentiments embedded in 
national and international institutions. The findings highlight the need to confront and take 
apart structural conditions enabling modern exploitation.}},
  author       = {{Biscione, Eleonora}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{From Conquest to Capital: Slavery Persistence and Perception across History}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}