helotism

/ˈhɛləˌtɪzəm/
noun
  1. The condition or system of helots in ancient Sparta; serfdom or bondage.
    • Helotism was a key part of the Spartan economy and military system.
    • Historians study helotism to understand the social structure of ancient Greece.
    • The harshness of helotism led to frequent uprisings among the enslaved population.
  2. Any system or state of complete subjugation or servitude.
    • The dictator's regime enforced a kind of helotism on the rural poor.
    • She wrote a book about the helotism experienced by migrant workers.
    • Modern slavery is a form of helotism that still exists in some parts of the world.
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