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This lecture explores the historical intersection of religion and slavery, distinguishing between formal and informal religious practices, and different forms of servitude from chattel slavery to modern-day human trafficking. The lecture delves into how major religions—Paganism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam—interacted with and regulated slavery throughout ancient, medieval, and modern eras, examining their texts and historical contexts. It also highlights the economic and demographic factors influencing slavery's prevalence and abolition, particularly in Europe, and discusses how the institution of slavery, while officially abolished worldwide, continues to manifest in various forms today.