Final answer:
Yes, race was identified with slavery before the era of European exploration. Slavery became based on race in the New World, particularly due to the demand for laborers on plantations. This association between slavery and race changed the character of the institution, leading to the dehumanization and brutal treatment of enslaved Africans.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, race was identified with slavery before the era of European exploration. Slavery has existed throughout history in various forms and in different societies. However, the association between slavery and race became deeply ingrained during the era of European exploration and colonization, particularly in the New World.
In the New World, European colonists in the Americas needed labor to work on plantations that grew labor-intensive crops like sugar and coffee. As the demand for laborers grew, they turned to African laborers, who were considered easier to enslave due to their physical appearance. This led to the development of a racialized form of slavery, where Africans were seen as natural slaves because of their perceived inferiority based on their race.
This association between slavery and race changed the character of the institution. It led to the dehumanization and brutal treatment of enslaved Africans, as they were seen as less than human due to their race. Slavery based on race also provided a way to justify and perpetuate the institution, as it created a deeply entrenched system of racism that was codified in law and policy.