| Most social historians believe that racism is a relatively recent phenomenon. Among ancient historians too it is believed that, although cultural prejudice existed in antiquity, this prejudice was not racism. Recently, some historians have identified modes of thought in antiquity, which are broadly analogous to racism if not explicitly so. Yet whether one is referring to cultural prejudice or racism in antiquity, most agree that such prejudices emerged out of conflicts between "ethnic groups." Little attention is paid, however, to the role played by domestic social and political structures in shaping the concept of "race" and in enabling racist modes of thought and behavior. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the connections between the growth of collective civic identities in Athens and Rome and the emergence of racialized ethnic consciousness. It is hoped that this thesis will shed light on how racist thought and behavior are produced, ultimately with a view to eliminating them. |
