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When did slavery began?

Updated: 8/22/2023
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9y ago

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Slavery, a form of forced labor, has existed since before written records, even playing a large role in Biblical times, and was mentioned heavily in the Old Testament. Contrary to common belief in the USA, slavery did not start in the Americas, nor was it restricted to black African people; it has existed in almost all cultures and continents, and even exists to this day, in one form or another, in some places.

In fact, in Africa slavery was common: the tribes would fight each other, and whichever tribe won would either vote to kill the other tribe, or have the tribe be their slaves. If the tribe that won the battle opted to have the other tribe be their slaves, each member would be sent to serve a house. Prisoners from other tribes or outlaws were also kept as slaves, but forced service was often negotiable, meaning they could be freed at some time or another.

In many ways it was just like the slavery that was in the US as well as all over the world. However, it is noted that plantation slavery in the American south was much more different than that of traditional African slavery. Slavery in the Americas was passed from parent to child, something that didn't happen in Africa (children weren't usually born into slavery). The Atlantic Slave Trade and the slavery in the Americas, particularly in the southern regions, remains some of the most brutal and cruel acts in human history. Though no one is completely sure when slavery started, having been a part of almost all human history.

Two basic comments need to be added to the original postings. Many but not all scholars believe African slavery was introduced to the sub-Sahara region by Greek traders. Even then, it was only used during periods of warfare as a more humane alternative for prisoners of war than outright execution.

Until European contact, the best estimates on the numbers of slaves in Africa were under 10,000. With the beginning of European slavery in the 1300s, it began an intolerable exploitation of human labor to work on sugar cane plantations and other Atlantic, West Indian, and American plantations, which only Africans knew how to cultivate prior to 1400. By its end in the 1800s, some 12 million had been enslaved in the Americas. The greater numbers going to the plantations of Brazil and the West Indies. During this period the Muslim slavers transported 17 million Africans to North Africa, the Middle East, and India.

Slavery began with the advent of the earliest tribes and civilizations. When one tribe defeated another, the defeated who were not killed often ended up being enslaved by the victors.

As for U.S. history, slavery began with the Spanish in what is now the southwestern part of the U.S., Native Americans were essentially enslaved by the Spanish through their policy of encomienda.

In the U.S. colonies, slavery was begun over 300 years ago, with the west African slave trade.

It was started almost as soon after Spanish revolutionaries discovered America. However, they failed in bringing africans over the water and white revolutionaries saw this as an oppurtunity to make these darker skinned human beings work for them.

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8y ago
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9y ago

Slavery began in Biblical times with Jews enslaved to the Pharoahs in ancient Egypt. Slavery with African-Americans started when explorers discovered Africa and African villages around 1200-1400.

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17y ago

Slavery has been practiced for thousands of years. Remember that the Jews were slaves in Egypt. American Indians captured their enemies and made them into slaves. Slavery was common in Asia and Africa. Africans captured their enemy neighbors and "sold" them to Dutch traders. Recognize that most of the Africans who ended up as slaves in Europe and the Americas would have been killed by their enemy neighbors if there had not been a way to profit from their hatred. Slavery is still practiced in 3rd world nations today. Slavery is a despicable practice, and has been since it's beginnings thousands of years ago. It is unfortunate that Southern Plantation owners resisted the abolition of slavery. Europe, northern U.S., and other civilized areas of the world recognized the evil nature of slavery and The North was willing to fight to preserve a nation that was gaining a moral conscience. Northerners fought and died for the rights of the black slaves. It is truly unfortunate that it took so long for humanity to grow a conscience.

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16y ago

Americans needed workes who would not complain, work long hours and would need to be payed much. As slavery already existed in Africa as a punishment it was easy for the Americas to just 'take' the Africans. This started the triangular trade there are 3 stages involved in this and they are:
- Stage 1 involved ships leaving England with goods (trinkets, tools and arms).
- Stage 2 involved taking slaves from Africa.
- Stage 3 involved transporting the slaves and goods from Africa to North America and the West Indies, the 3rd stage also involved the Captains of the ships selling the slaves and using the money to purchase sugar, spices and tobacco which could not be grown in England.

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14y ago

Slavery existed in many different forms among countries hundreds of years ago. Even in ancient Egypt, there were slaves. The farther back you go, the "simpler" the slavery was. Slaves were usually criminals or people who were being punished. Advanced Europe held onto slavery mostly in the lesser form of servants and maids. There were endentured servants, too. America is one of the most notorius for slavery, even though it was very brief. America imported slaves from Africa and treated them very, very harshly.

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12y ago

In the southern states of america. By 1856, the South had lost control of Congress, and was no longer able to silence calls for an end to slavery-which came mostly from the more populated, free states of the North. The Republican Party, founded in 1854, pledged to stop the spread of slavery beyond those states where it already existed. Only the state of Kentucky attempted to remain away from the fight for slavery. In April 1861, there was an overwhelming demand, North and South, for war. In the four years of war 1861-65 the South was the primary battleground, with all but two of the major battles taking place in the south!

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7y ago

Slavery did not "begin" in the United States. The better question is how did slavery begin in the Eastern Hemisphere. Early ancient Native civilizations such as the Incas and Aztecs made slaves of conquered Native peoples. Slavery began in North America when the first Dutch slave ship docked at Jamestown in the early 1600's.

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13y ago

Slavery goes back long before recorded history. Ancient cultures like the Egyptians and several Native American tribes kept slaves.

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11y ago

Slavery first began in many different countries , slavery still goes on now but slavery was canceled in many other countries also

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