Slavery Slavery was an accepted feature, often essential to the economy and society, of all ancient civilizations. The ancient Mesopotamian, Indian, and Chinese civilizations employed slaves, either domestically, in homes, or in shops, or in gangs for large-scale construction or agriculture. The ancient Egyptians use slaves on a mass scale to build the royal palaces and monuments. The ancient Hebrews also use slaves, but they were required by religious law to free slaves of their own nationality at certain times. In the more advanced civilizations of Pre-Colombian America, for example, those of the Aztec, Inca and Maya, slave labo