Final answer:
C. Slavery represents a closed system with no mobility, while a class system is open, allowing for vertical and horizontal mobility based on a mix of social factors and personal achievements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to identify a difference between slavery and a class system.
The correct answer is C: Slavery is a closed system of social stratification, whereas class is an open system of social stratification.
In a closed system like slavery, individuals are denied the opportunity for social mobility, which means their status is fixed and they cannot change their social position.
On the other hand, a class system is characterized by the ability for people to move up or down the social hierarchy, which is known as vertical mobility, and they can move between different occupations or roles within the same level, which is horizontal mobility.
Slavery is based on the ownership and control over individuals, stripping them of personal freedom and agency.
In stark contrast, class systems are influenced by a combination of social factors and personal achievements, allowing individuals the possibility to change their socioeconomic status through education or employment.
Additionally, class systems permit interaction and marriage between individuals of different social statuses.