Origins and History of Slavery Slavery began in ancient world civilizations as early as 3,000 B.C.E. Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, China, India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and African kingdoms all practiced slavery I beat you. Im stronger than you. You are my slave. Root of the word Slave The modern word for slave comes from "Slav." During the Middle Ages, most slaves in Europe and the Islamic world were people from Slavic Eastern Europe. It was only in the 15th century that slavery became linked with people from sub-Saharan Africa. Slavic World What is a slave? Slaves are property of an owner. They could be bought and sold, traded, leased, or mortgaged like a form of livestock. In all cultures, slaves were symbolically dishonored. For example, they were branded, tattooed, or required to wear distinctive collars, clothing, or hairstyles. Regardless of time and place in history or the ethnicity of the slaves, societies have seen slaves with many common stereotypes. Slaves have been viewed as childlike, lazy, irresponsible, dim-witted, and incapable of freedom. Why do you think that is so? Also, regardless of place and time period or the ethnicity of the slaves, societies have imposed certain common stereotypes on slaves - that they were licentious, childlike, lazy, irresponsible, dim-witted, and incapable of freedom. Differences between Ancient World Slavery and New World Slavery Slavery in the ancient world was not based on race. It was about dominating one society or culture over another. In fact, most slaves in Europe were whites owning other whites. Slavery in the ancient world was often not permanent. Many were offered or won their freedom. Many slaves in the ancient world were highly educated and held positions such as doctors, educators and scribes. Profit was not the main motivation for slavery in the ancient world. It was more about exerting power over an enemy culture. Many worked as household servants and concubines. A drunk man vomiting, while a young slave is holding his forehead New World (Americas) Slavery The motivation for slaves in the Americas was profit. MONEY!!! A large labor force was needed for cash crops like sugar cane, tobacco and cotton. Native Americans were the first slaves but many tribes were decimated by disease. The Americas now look to Africa where slavery is nothing new to Arab traders. But how did European colonists justify bringing millions of Africans to the New World? The Justification that Eased the White Mans Conscience In the Christian world, the most important rationalization for slavery was the so-called "Curse of Ham." The Biblical figure Noah had cursed his son Ham with blackness and the condition of slavery. In reality, the story is wrong. Noah actually curses Canaan, the ancestor of the Canaanites, and not Ham. But the "Curse of Ham" was the first justification of slavery. Quite simply, black was bad Europeans associated whiteness with purity. Blackness had sinister and even satanic connotations since black was the color of the Devil. Slavery in Africa Slavery existed in Africa before the arrival of Europeans. As in Europe, kingdoms and civilizations fought each other and enslaved each other as a result of the spoils of war. Why was Africa so vulnerable to the slave trade? 1.The major kingdoms and civilizations of West and Central Africa became weakened. Ghana and Mali--had declined, and the absence of strong, stable political units made it more difficult to resist the slave trade. 2.Historical Irony. Crops from the New World such as cassava, squash, and peanuts stimulated population growth in Africa. Rapid population growth, in turn, made the slave trade possible. More people equals more slaves. CRAZY!!! Right??? Slaves in Africa The Slave Trade Many Americans mistakenly believe that slaves were captured by Europeans who landed on the African coast and captured people. It is important to understand that Europeans were incapable, on their own, of kidnapping 20 million Africans. Most slaves sold to Europeans had not been slaves in Africa. They were free people who were captured in war between tribes and kingdoms. So why did tribes sell their prisoners to Arabs and Europeans? Professional slave traders set up bases along the west African coast where they purchased slaves from Africans in exchange for firearms and other goods. They would then use those goods against their enemies. Before the end of the 17th century, England, France, Denmark, Holland, and Portugal had all established slave trading posts on the west African coast. Arab Slave Market on the African Coast Slave Pens (Barracoons) Some African societies like Benin in southern Nigeria refused to sell slaves. But for many tribes the promise of European riches was too much to refuse. After capture, the captives were bound together at the neck and marched barefoot hundreds of miles to the Atlantic coast. African captives typically suffered death rates of 20 percent or more while being marched overland. Observers reported seeing hundreds of skeletons along the slave caravan routes. At the coast, the captives were held in pens guarded by dogs. Historians guess that another 15 to 30 percent of Africans died during capture, the march from the interior, or the wait for slave ships along the coast. Barracoon Middle Passage and the Triangular Trade Slaves were shipped from Africa as part of the triangular trade Interesting Facts about the Middle Passage 1.Between 1500 and 1900 over 15 million Africans were transported across the Atlantic. However, keep in mind, many died on their captured journeys within Africa and aboard the slave ships. We can add a few more million to this list. 2.Slaves were chained below deck for over seven weeks and made to live in their own feces, vomit and other unspeakable horrors including dead bodies. 3.The death rate on these slave ships was very high, reaching 25 percent in the 17th and early 18th centuries. It remained around ten percent in the 19th century as a result of malnutrition and such diseases as dysentery, measles, scurvy, and smallpox. The most serious danger was dehydration due to inadequate water rations. Diarrhea was widespread and many Africans arrived in the New World covered with sores or suffering fevers. The Slave Ship Below Deck Diagram of a Slave Ship Triangular Trade Map A Quote from Lincoln You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Abraham Lincoln How do you think this quote can apply to peoples views of slavery in America?