What’s the relationship between racism and slavery?

Slavery in Egypt The theory and practice of Egyptian slavery were, as far as we can tell, quite different from those of Greece, Rome or the southern states of the USA, where slaves were wholly at the mercy of their owners with little protection from society, and was more in line with the kind of slavery practiced in the rest of Africa.  Unlike slaves in America, the period of enslavement in Egypt was often limited. Debt slaves or prisoners of war were at times set free after serving for a certain period.   Some slaves were the personal servants of individuals. Others belonged to the estates of temples and noblemen, often taken during a military campaign or bestowed by the king.

Slavery in Ancient Greece Slavery played a major role in ancient Greek civilization. Slaves could be found everywhere. They worked not only as domestic servants, but as factory workers, shopkeepers, mineworkers, farm workers and as ship's crewmembers. There may have been as many, if not more, slaves than free people in ancient Greece. It is difficult for historians to determine exactly how many slaves there were during these times, because many did not appear any different from the poorer Greek citizens. There were many different ways in which a person could have become a slave in ancient Greece. They might have been taken prisoner if their city was attacked in one of the many battles which took place during these times. They might have been exposed as an infant, meaning the parents had abandoned their newborn baby upon a hillside or at the gates of the city to die or be claimed by a passerby.

Epictetus Slaves were often learned and respectable in ways we don’t associate with slavery today. The Stoic philosopher Epictetus lived out his childhood in Rome as the slave of a wealthy former slave, Epaphroditos, who may have been responsible for crippling his leg … but also permitted him to study philosophy. He obtained his freedom as a teenager or young man and became a teacher of philosophy. His work has had an influence on later philosophy, modern Buddhist thought, psychology and literature.

Slavery in ancient Rome People of many different colors were slaves in the Roman Empire. But as in modern slavery, it was an abusive and degrading institution. Cruelty was commonplace. A common practice Most slaves during the Roman Empire were foreigners and, unlike in modern times, Roman slavery was not based on race. Slaves in Rome might include prisoners of war, sailors captured and sold by pirates, or slaves bought outside Roman territory. In hard times, it was not uncommon for desperate Roman citizens to raise money by selling their children into slavery Sculpture of slave boy

When the Romans conquered the Mediterranean world, they took millions of slaves, who toiled on large plantations or in the houses and workplaces of wealthy citizens. The Italian economy depended on abundant slave labor, with slaves constituting 40 percent of the population. Enslaved people with talent, skill, or beauty commanded the highest prices, and many served as singers, scribes, jewelers, bartenders, and even doctors. One slave trained in medicine was worth the price of 50 agricultural slaves.

(Traditional) Slavery in Africa

(Traditional) Slavery in Africa From the earliest known history of Africa, slavery existed. However, slavery was much different from the modern day slavery that eventually came to dominate the New World. In most parts of Africa, slavery was not based on race. Egyptians (you’ll remember) enslaved whomever they captured, regardless of race. Slavery was also prevalent in other countries. Those that were enslaved were put to work in the fields and were used as personal servants to the wealthy. Menial work was not considered degrading, and slaves were given educational opportunities.

Serfdom The typical European form of slavery in the Middle Ages was serfdom, in which peasants, effectively “owned” by the lord of the manor, could be forced to work not only in his fields but in his mines and forests and building his roads. In return, they received certain protections and the right to raise a meagre amount of food for themselves, enough to survive into another year. Serfdom was gradually abolished in Europe … but persisted in Russia until 1861.

Indentured Servitude In Europe and America, meanwhile, white citizens entered a temporary form of slavery called indentured servitude. Rather than being captured or sold, they voluntarily contracted to lead a slave-like existence for a limited period of time, in return for passage to the New World and, eventually, land.

And then came … the Atlantic Slave Trade Skip ahead to the years of the Atlantic Slave Trade, of the Middle Passage and slave markets in the Deep South… slavery seemed to have become an institution based wholeheartedly on race.

Slave Castle in Ghana

The Middle Passage

Slaves were forced to wear these retraining devises as they were marched off to the slave ships

What’s the relationship between racism and slavery?

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the Earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect for the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation…