'Specialized Labor in Classical Antiquity: Economy, Community, Identity'

The notion of ‘specialized labor’ informs research on economic growth in antiquity, ancient slavery, urbanism, philosophical discussions of craft and knowledge, and so much more. But what is specialized labor? In what contexts did it exist in classical antiquity, and why? What were its economic consequences, and how did its existence shape discourses concerning work, knowledge, and identity? Who were the people performing this labor, and what impact did it have on their lives?

This conference, organized by graduate students in the Departments of Classics at Princeton University and Rutgers University, New Jersey, brings together a variety of scholars answering these very questions. David Hollander (Iowa State University) and Lynne Kvapil (Butler University) will be keynote speakers.