Summary
This study of slavery in the ancient Greek world looks at the role of slaves in Greek democracy. Some of the most important official roles in the Greek state--such as those of archivists, police, and financial auditors--were filled by slaves. By putting slaves in these positions, the Greek city created a situation in which certain specialized areas of knowledge were placed outside of the political field. By makings its administrators invisible, the city created the idea of a state that could become an autonomous authority and, if necessary, could turn against itself.