Question

Which of the following elements was characteristic of slavery in West Africa prior to the Atlantic Slave Trade?

A) Slavery was primarily based on racial discrimination.
B) Slavery was mainly an agricultural institution.
C) Slaves had no legal rights and were considered property.
D) Slavery was abolished in most West African societies before the Atlantic Slave Trade began.

Answer 1

Before the Atlantic slave trade, West African slavery was not based on race; slaves could gain status and rights over time. They were considered property but with potential for social integration, unlike the chattel slavery later seen in the New World.

Step-by-step explanation:

Slavery in West Africa prior to the Atlantic Slave Trade was characterized by complex social dynamics rather than racial discrimination. War captives, criminals, and other marginalized individuals could become slaves but often had opportunities for social integration or certain legal rights after a period of time. Indeed, unlike the racialized slavery that developed in the New World, West African slavery included enslaved persons potentially gaining status within society and having the possibility of their offspring being born free. Slavery often existed as part of the local agricultural or industrial economy but was not fundamentally based on race.

Option C is the most representative of the reality in West Africa pre-Atlantic slave trade: Slaves had no legal rights and were considered property. However, it is important to note that despite being considered property, slaves in some West African societies could acquire certain rights over time, distinct from the chattel slavery that characterized the transatlantic slave trade.