Slavery & Triangular Trade
World History
Slavery
In history, whenever one group was able to conquer,
dominate, or otherwise control another group, slavery often
followed. Slavery itself is a form of forced labor forced in
which people are considered to be the property of others.
Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their
capture, purchase or birth, and are deprived of the right to
leave, to refuse to work, or to receive compensation.
Evidence of slavery predates written records, and has existed
in countless cultures through time. Slavery probably began
with the development of farming about 10,000 years ago.
Farmers used prisoners of war to work for them. Slavery has
existed in societies around the world. People were enslaved
in civilizations from Egypt to China to Rome to India.
Discussion Questions…
• From an economic point of view, why
would people choose to use slave labor?
Slavery in the Americas
When the Europeans first claimed land in the New World they were few in
numbers. Many of these Europeans and European nations were interested in
making money and growing their empires. To do this they wanted to set up
colonies designed to help their economies. In these colonies money-makers
such as sugar plantations and tobacco farms were established, but they
required a large supply of workers to make them profitable. But because the
Europeans did not have a lot of European people to do the work, they had to
look elsewhere for labor. The first group the Europeans looked to for labor
were the Native American, whom they felt would be a very cheap labor source.
This was because they were both close by and also there were many of them.
Soon these Native American laborers, usually enslaved, began to die off
because of the spread of diseases brought over by the Europeans from the Old
World, as well as their harsh working conditions and brutal treatment. Other
Native Americans, because of their superior knowledge of the land and their
surroundings were able to run away. Because of these problems there was
soon a shortage of laborers in the New World. In order to meet their growing
labor needs, European colonists soon turned to another group: Africans, whom
they would enslave by the millions.
Discussion Questions…
• Based on the reading, why would
Africans seem to be a better choice to
the European Colonists than Native
Americans to use as slave labor?
Slavery in the Americas
In history, race was not always a factor in slavery.
Often slaves were captured prisoners of war, or
people with a different nationality or religion.
However, the slavery that developed in the
Americas was based largely on race. Europeans
viewed Native Americans and Africans as
naturally inferior. Because of this, slavery in the
Americas was hereditary.
Slavery in Africa
Slavery had existed in Africa for centuries. In most
regions it was a relatively minor institution. The
spread of Islam into Africa in the 7th Century,
however, ushered in an increase of slavery and the
slave trade. Muslim rulers in Africa justified
enslavement with the Muslim belief that nonMuslim prisoners could be bought and sold as
slaves. However, in most African and Muslim
societies, slaves had some legal rights and an
opportunity for social mobility. In African societies,
slaves could escape their bondage in numerous
ways, including marrying in to the family they
served.
Slavery in Africa
Many African rulers and merchants were willing to play
a role in the Atlantic slave trade. Most European
traders, rather than travel inland, waited in ports along
the coast of Africa. African merchants, with the help of
local rulers, captured Africans to be enslaved. They then
delivered them to the Europeans in exchange for gold,
guns, and other goods, as part of the Triangle Trade
system.
Definitions
• Triangular Trade – the transatlantic trading
network along which slaves and other goods
were carried between Africa, the Americas,
and Europe
• Middle Passage – the transatlantic voyage
that brought enslaved Africans to the
Americas, called such because it was
considered the middle leg of triangular trade
Triangular Trade
Triangular Trade
Triangular Trade
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade