Final answer:
Race became a significant factor in the history of slavery with the European colonization of the Americas, as a racial ideology emerged that linked dark skin with natural inferiority to justify the enslavement of Africans. (option b)
Step-by-step explanation:
The Historical Relationship Between Race and Slavery
When and why did race become a factor in the history of slavery? The association of slavery with race began to solidify with the European colonization of the Americas, specifically during the transatlantic slave trade. Although forms of slavery existed in ancient times and were associated with cultural differences, it was during the European colonization process that a racial dimension was added to justify the enslavement of African peoples.
The transformation of slavery into a racially-based institution occurred as Europeans, particularly the Portuguese in the 15th century, started to enslave Africans and export them to various parts of the world, including Europe and eventually the Americas. The engagement in the transatlantic slave trade led to a new racial ideology that linked dark skin with natural inferiority and ordained servitude, codified in both law and religious doctrine. Before this era, Europeans enslaved different groups regardless of their skin color. However, with the establishment of lucrative plantation economies in the Americas and the need for labor, Africans became the primary targets of enslavement, reinforcing the association between race and slavery.
In North America, the legal system used race to easily identify who could be enslaved and who could not, with Africans being considered ideal for enslavement based on their race. Thus, slavery in the American context became inherently racialized. The categorization of Africans as property rather than people led to severe discrimination and dehumanization, which supported the economic benefits derived from slavery by the dominant group.