One thing I really try to do in my ancient studies is use intentional language, something I apply from other organizing, e.g., I never say “slaves”, but rather “enslaved people”; I don’t say “prostitute”, but “sex workers”. I sometimes feel our field drags behind in doing this.

I’ve also tried to be more cognizant of the limiting nature of the term “non-elite” by using “sub-elite” in my work about commercial space + religion instead, which more accurately captures complexity, something I borrow from the awesome work of @StevenEllis74!

The term “enslaved people” w/ref. to antiquity can help your audience continue to recognize their humanity, individual identity, + their pain at the hands of others, rather than reducing it (esp. in a field with a history of minimizing any suffering of ancient enslaved people).