Indigenous Slavery

Definition

Indigenous slavery refers to the practice of enslaving the native or indigenous populations within a region or country, often as a result of colonial expansion and the exploitation of local communities. This form of slavery was prevalent in various parts of the world, including West Africa, where it played a significant role in the broader context of the transatlantic slave trade.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Indigenous slavery was a widespread practice in West Africa, where local rulers and communities would capture and sell members of their own or neighboring tribes to European slave traders.
2. The demand for labor in the Americas, driven by the expansion of plantation economies, led to the increased exploitation of indigenous populations in West Africa through the transatlantic slave trade.
3. Indigenous slavery in West Africa often involved the capture and sale of prisoners of war, criminals, and individuals who defaulted on debts, as well as the enslavement of entire communities.
4. The practice of indigenous slavery predated the transatlantic slave trade and was deeply rooted in the social and economic structures of many West African societies.
5. The introduction of European firearms and the desire for European goods, such as textiles, alcohol, and metal goods, further fueled the expansion of indigenous slavery in West Africa.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of indigenous slavery in the context of the transatlantic slave trade.
  • Indigenous slavery in West Africa was a significant contributor to the transatlantic slave trade. Local rulers and communities would capture and sell members of their own or neighboring tribes to European slave traders, who then transported them to the Americas to work on plantations and in other labor-intensive industries. The demand for labor in the Americas, driven by the expansion of colonial economies, led to the increased exploitation of indigenous populations in West Africa through this system of enslavement.
• Describe the social and economic factors that contributed to the prevalence of indigenous slavery in West Africa.
  • Indigenous slavery in West Africa was deeply rooted in the social and economic structures of local societies. Factors such as the capture and sale of prisoners of war, criminals, and individuals who defaulted on debts, as well as the enslavement of entire communities, were common practices. The introduction of European firearms and the desire for European goods, such as textiles, alcohol, and metal goods, further fueled the expansion of indigenous slavery, as local rulers and communities sought to acquire these valuable commodities through the sale of enslaved individuals.
• Analyze the long-term impact of indigenous slavery on the societies and economies of West Africa.
  • The practice of indigenous slavery had significant and long-lasting impacts on the societies and economies of West Africa. The constant removal of able-bodied individuals from local communities disrupted social structures, family units, and economic systems, leading to the destabilization of many West African societies. The demand for enslaved labor also contributed to the development of a lucrative trade network that enriched some local rulers and merchants, but ultimately led to the exploitation and impoverishment of the broader population. The legacy of indigenous slavery, combined with the devastating effects of the transatlantic slave trade, had profound and lasting consequences on the social, economic, and political development of West Africa.

Related terms

Transatlantic Slave Trade: The transatlantic slave trade was the large-scale transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries, primarily to support the agricultural economies of European colonial empires.

Colonialism: Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Tribal Slavery: Tribal slavery refers to the practice of enslaving members of one's own or neighboring tribes, which was common in many pre-colonial African societies.