Question

Explain the difference between ancient views of slavery and views of slavery in the

1500s-1800s.

Answer 1

The fundamental differences between African slavery in the New World and previous forms were its chattel nature, race-based system, and the scale of the transatlantic slave trade. Unlike in ancient times or other labor systems like European serfdom, New World slavery was hereditary and tied to African descent, and the morality of slavery was debated in terms of political and economic freedoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Comparison of Ancient and 1500s-1800s Slavery Practices

African slavery in the New World from the 1500s to 1800s differed in several key aspects from both ancient forms of slavery and other labor systems of the era. One fundamental difference is the chattel nature of New World slavery, where enslaved people were considered movable property with no rights. This differed from some ancient societies where slaves could own property, marry, and potentially purchase their freedom.

Racial underpinnings also differentiated New World slavery from other forms. Slavery in the Americas was closely tied to race, creating a system where being African or of African descent typically meant enslavement was for life and hereditary. In contrast, ancient slavery was not primarily based on race, and other labor systems like European serfdom did not necessarily extend bondage to descendant generations.

Another key component was the scale and intensity of the transatlantic slave trade. It involved the forced migration of millions of Africans, under brutal conditions, which was unparalleled in scale in earlier forms of slavery or other labor systems such as indentured servitude, where individuals typically worked under a contract for a specified period before gaining freedom.

In the context of North America, discussions of slavery's morality began to surface more prominently in the 19th century. Northerners and southerners had divergent views on slavery, which factored into broader debates over political and economic liberties, reflecting their respective interpretations of the American Revolution's legacy.

Answer 2

As slavery underwent a resurgence in southern Europe, it gradually disappeared from the northwestern part of the continent. Economic changes help to explain this development, but perhaps more important were cultural constraints. Over the course of the Middle Ages, Christians always committed awful atrocities on each other, but increasingly they avoided enslaving one another. Apparently, a sense of unity had emerged in Christian Europe that effectively barred the enslavement of those deemed fellow Europeans. Christianity's long struggle with Islam no doubt played a major role in this development. That from 1500 to 1800 Muslims enslaved well over a million Western Europeans, many of whom were subsequently ransomed and celebrated as symbols of freedom, was a major element in the growing sense that Europeans should never be slaves.

Step-by-step explanation: