Slavery in Old and New Worlds

Presentations

Eyewitness Accounts Olaudah Equiano

Born in Nigeria Kidnapped at 11 Brought to Virginia Bought by naval captain Schooled in Great Britain Sold to Caribbean traders Purchased his freedom

Eyewitness Accounts Olaudah Equiano

Slavery prior to 1600s was not racially based - 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

Slavery brought to Europe Islamic Spain – 711-1492 AD Slavery brought to Europe

Slavery brought to Europe Islamic Spain – 711-1492 AD Slavery brought to Europe

Early Concepts of Race in Eurasia Division between Islam and Christians Becomes racial in conflict over Spain – Black Moors vs. White Spaniards Race = Religion = Ability to Enslave

Slavery brought to Europe Christian Spain –1492 AD Slavery brought to Europe

Demand for Slaves Slavery is brought to New World Crops &mining require labor Native American Plagues Demand for Slaves

1492-1600

Slavery is brought to New World Spanish slavery Religion Economics Race Sex Conquistadors often single men, or at least without their wives, rarely brought families Results in numerous “mixed race” couples and children Results in a complicated racial hierarchy that could be somewhat flexible

Slavery is brought to New World Conquistadors &the “browning” of Spain and New World Conquistadors often single men, or at least without their wives, rarely brought families Results in numerous “mixed race” couples and children Results in a complicated racial hierarchy that could be somewhat flexible

Slavery prior to 1600s was not racially based - Racial Blurring

1600s Numerous mixed ancestry Slavery becomes a serious ethical issue in Spain Declines in use – instead cheap labor utilized

Enter England 1534 – England splits from Catholic church No longer under rule of Pope – including decree giving the New World to Spain

Enter England England had very few slaves – but was a major player in their trade Slaves seen as Property – not People

England Spain 1600-1719

English Colonialism Economics and Demography Early towns run and financed by businesses – not government Whole families moved to New World – especially in North America Economics and Demography

English Colonialism Tobacco and Cotton plantations Originally used Irish servants and convicts Uprisings and rebellions Early towns run and financed by businesses – not government Whole families moved to New World – especially in North America

English Colonialism Direct importation of Africans Strict racial divisions Early towns run and financed by businesses – not government Whole families moved to New World – especially in North America

English Colonialism Continued “whiteness” of English No moral dilemma Slavery forms backbone of economy Early towns run and financed by businesses – not government Whole families moved to New World – especially in North America

English Colonialism Racism deployed to control working poor Racism used to justify treatment of Africans Early towns run and financed by businesses – not government Whole families moved to New World – especially in North America

Spain England Slaves as People Slaves as Property 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

England Spain 1719-1775

Spain England England 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 Slavery Africa Population Loss Ethnic Divisions Raiding – Weapons – Slaving Spiral Political Instability Youth over Wisdom, Warlords over Politicians Destruction of Legal System

Long-term Effects of Slavery Results in an Africa plagued by violence, instability, ethnic divisions, and poverty

Raw Materials

Europe Long-term Effects of Slavery Increased 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 Slavery Results in an Europe filled with skilled workers, increased wealth, and demand for industrialization

People and Labor

New Ethnicities (Spain) Long-term Effects of Slavery Americas Repopulation Economic Base New Ethnicities (Spain) Deep Racism (England)

Long-term Effects of Slavery Results in an America filled with ethnic diversity, cash crops based on free labor, and new conceptions of race

The end of slavery Sublimus Dei – 1537 (recinded 1538) Spain – 1542 Providence Plantation (Rhode Island) – 1652 Portugal – 1761 Northeast US – 1770-1799