How was African slavery different from European slavery?
1 Answer
Purpose, Process, Place and Duration.
Explanation:
The purpose of slavery in Africa was primarily trade. The conquering tribe would sale the slaves to Islamic slave traders for wealth and then later to the European slave traders.
The purpose of slavery in the European colonial style was labour.
The black slaves were able to effectively work the sugar, tobacco, and cotton plantations of the Caribbean islands, and southern United States. This "free" inexpensive labour made the plantation culture profitable and wealthy.
The process of slavery in Africa was conquest. A stronger tribe would conquer a smaller weaker tribe and take some its people as slaves.
The process of slavery in the European model was purchase. The European slave traders would go to Africa and trade for the slaves captured by the rival African tribes and Islamic slave traders.
The place of African slavery was within Africa, the trans Saharan trade routes, The East African ocean routes and finally the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.
The place of European slavery was the plantations of the South and the Caribbean islands. The slaves were taken across the Atlantic to a distance land from which they could never return.
The Duration of the African Slave was short. If not traded the ex slave could often obtain freedom through military or other service, some rising to high rank.
The Duration of European Slavery was for life and the life of their offspring. The children of slaves would become slaves at birth. There were few legal escape from slavery. Some owners would set their slaves free at their death in their wills. Other owners would allow slaves to purchase their freedom. For the most part European slavery was for life.
