Slavery in Old and New Worlds
Presentations
Eyewitness
Accounts
Olaudah Equiano
Born in NigeriaKidnapped at 11
Brought to VirginiaBought by naval
captainSchooled in Great
BritainSold to Caribbean
tradersPurchased his
freedom
Eyewitness
Accounts
Olaudah Equiano
Slavery and Racism
Did racism bring about slavery – or the other way around?
Ancient World – China, Egypt, Greece, Rome – relates to war
Medieval World – Vikings, Mongols– relates to raiding
Medieval World –Islamic Empires –relates to religion and sex
Islamic Spain – 711-1492 AD
Slavery brought to Europe
Islamic Spain – 711-1492 AD
Slavery brought to Europe
Early Concepts of Race in EurasiaDivision between Islam and
Christians
Becomes racial in conflict over Spain – Black Moors vs. White
Spaniards
Race = Religion = Ability to Enslave
Christian Spain –1492 AD
Slavery brought to Europe
Crops &mining require labor
Native American Plagues
Slavery is brought to New World
Demand for Slaves
1492-1600
Slavery is brought to New WorldSpanish slavery- Religion- Economics- Race- Sex
Slavery is brought to New WorldConquistadors &the “browning” of Spain and New World
Racial Blurring
1600sNumerous mixed ancestry
Slavery becomes a serious ethical issue in Spain
Declines in use – instead cheap labor utilized
Enter England1534 – England splits from Catholic church
No longer under rule of Pope – including decree giving the New World to Spain
Enter EnglandEngland had very few slaves – but was a major player in their trade
Slaves seen as Property – not People
1600-1719
Spain
England
English Colonialism
Economics and Demography
English Colonialism• Tobacco and
Cotton plantations
• Originally used Irish servants and convicts
• Uprisings and rebellions
English Colonialism• Direct
importation of Africans
• Strict racial divisions
English Colonialism• Continued
“whiteness” of English
• No moral dilemma
• Slavery forms backbone of economy
English Colonialism• Racism
deployed to control working poor
• Racism used to justify treatment of Africans
EnglandSpain• Slaves as
People• Intermarriage • Never big in
trade• Laws decreed
by King and Pope
• Slaving declines in importance
• Slaves as Property
• Segregation• Primary trader• Laws decreed
by companies• Slaving always
remains important
1719-1775
Spain
England
EnglandSpainEngland begins to dominate in the Americas, partially because of their continued use of slavery while Spain loses influence
Long-term Effects of Slavery• Impact on Africa• Impact on Europe• Impact on Americas
Long-term Effects of Slavery
Nzinga Mbemba Letter
Trans-Atlantic Trade
Trans-Saharan Trade
Indian Sea Trade
Red Sea Trade
Total Population Loss = 20 million
Long-term Effects of SlaveryAfrica• Population Loss
• Ethnic Divisions• Raiding – Weapons – Slaving Spiral• Political Instability• Youth over Wisdom, Warlords over
Politicians• Destruction of Legal System
Long-term Effects of SlaveryResults in an Africa plagued
by violence, instability, ethnic divisions, and poverty
Raw Materials
Long-term Effects of Slavery
EuropeIncreased raw materials = increased number of skilled workers &industrialization of
production
Explosion in wealth and middle class
Growth in large-scale international trade
Long-term Effects of SlaveryResults in an Europe filled
with skilled workers, increased wealth, and
demand for industrialization
People and Labor
Long-term Effects of Slavery
AmericasRepopulationEconomic Base
New Ethnicities (Spain)Deep Racism (England)
Long-term Effects of SlaveryResults in an America filled
with ethnic diversity, cash crops based on free labor,
and new conceptions of race
The end of slaverySublimus Dei – 1537 (recinded
1538)Spain – 1542
Providence Plantation (Rhode Island) – 1652
Portugal – 1761Northeast US – 1770-1799
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