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