Discussion on the definitions of slavery - "Historical Chameleons"
In 2023, we launched the project "Historical Chameleons" within the framework of KLaDA.BG. Researchers from IBSCT-BAS work to track changes in view of the historical context and define important socially significant concepts with the support of researchers from IICT-BAS and the team of SIC Βulgarian Encyclopaedia-BAS.
On March 15, 2024, we held our first discussion on the concept of "slavery" and how it changes in Antiquity (Assoc. Prof. Ivo Topalilov), Late Antiquity (Assoc. Prof. Zlatomira Gerdzhikova), the Middle Ages (Asst. Prof. Simeon Hinkovski, Assoc. Prof. Georgi Dimov), the Ottoman (early modern) period (Assoc. Prof. Rositsa Gradeva, Asst. Prof. Mariya Shusharova), the late modern period (Assoc. Prof. Simeon Simeonov, Assoc. Prof. Tina Georgieva) and in our current time (Prof. Yura Konstantinova, Angel Zlatkov PhD).
After a heated discussion, definitions of slavery were proposed for some of the indicated historical periods, while several useful suggestions were made for the rest. A conclusion was reached that in some periods, slavery as a concept is harder to define due to the dynamics of the sociopolitical context, and that further discussions are necessary at a subsequent event.
For more information about the concept of "slavery" visit the website of the project "Historical Chameleons" https://historical-chameleons.clada-bg.com/slavery_discussion-bg/#