Self-sale and Voluntary Entry into Unfreedom, 300-1100
Alice Rio
Voluntary entry into unfreedom in late antiquity and the early middle ages has tended to be interpreted as anything but voluntary: instead, self-sales autodeditions have been seen mostly terms of coercion, whether by force or necessity, associated with particular moments social crisis. This article argues that sensitive nature topic resulted an exceptionally misleading representation legal literary sources, albeit divergent ways. Roman Byzantine law treated self-sale illegal, while at same time leaving room for manoeuvre practice, took a very judgmental view self-sellers. Early Christian on contrary, them emblematic oppression poor, harnessed political admonishment, presenting self-sellers passive victims rapacious buyers bad governance. While diametrically different their presentation moral significance self-sales, sources both therefore contribute impression distinction between free unfree was most important divide. Documentary contrast, present picture, suggesting higher degree continuity (and perhaps frequency) this also it could object active careful negotiation bargaining, people economic circumstances using status asset variety purposes instrumental way, far removed its concerns from elite discourse which freedom essential value.
Journal of Social History|PubMed