Sara Forsdyke

Sara Forsdyke is the Josiah Ober Collegiate Professor of Ancient History at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the Department of History and Classical Studies. She holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (1997). Her research explores ancient Greek democracy, slavery, and law, with a focus on their relevance to modern issues such as criminal justice reform, discrimination, and political systems. She has authored seminal works like Slaves and Slavery in Ancient Greece (2021), Slaves Tell Tales (2012), and Exile, Ostracism and Democracy (2005). Her current project examines jury trials in classical Athens and modern America. She collaborates with students like Katelin Mikos on cutting-edge research. Forsdyke’s interdisciplinary work bridges ancient and modern legal and political thought, emphasizing the enduring lessons of antiquity.

• Education: Ph.D. in Ancient History, Princeton University, 1997
• Affiliations: Department of History, Department of Classical Studies, Interdepartmental Program in Ancient History (IPAH)

Her research interests span slavery, democracy, legal systems, and the intersection of ancient and modern societal challenges. Recent projects include analyzing enslaved agency in Greece and comparing ancient and modern conceptions of justice. She contributes to public discourse through blogs and opinion pieces on topics like impeachment and pandemic responses.

Her scholarly output includes articles on political protest in pre-modern societies, ancient legal frameworks, and the role of popular culture in shaping political norms. Forsdyke’s work underscores the value of historical analysis in addressing contemporary social and political dilemmas.