Slave trading relates to all occasions throughout history where one human being (slave) was in completely dependent relation with another (slave owner) in the sense that it represents the ownership over that person with whom the slave owner can freely control. For slavery, it is characteristic that such relationship existed in large number of societies. As an exception, there are societies and cultures of hunters collectors where slavery was completely unknown.
Most historians believes that slavery was developed along with establishing the division of labor, that is, when thanks to new technologies connected with agriculture in societies-which will later develop into civilizations-there was a excess of land and other resources with simultaneous shortage of work force, which should process those resources. Precisely that need for work force throughout history was one of main incentives for procurement of new slaves, which was the purpose of wars that is slave trading. Economical imperative, is understanding that slave labor is cheaper than hired labor, was the key argument against the tendency for abolishing slavery which occurred throughout history for religious, political and practical reasons.
10FACT No 10
The first recognized slave in America was in 1654 and owned by a black man. Anthony Johnson had the court that his slave was his property for life.
09FACT No 9
There were 12.5 million saves shipped from Africa between 1525 and 1866. 1.8 million died in the journey across the Atlantic, known as the Middle Passage.
08FACT No 8
Only about 450.000 slaves ended up in North America, 80 percent went to the Caribbean and South America. Brazil received 4.86 million Africans alone.
07FACT No 7
In Brazil Quilombo dos Palmares, a community of 20.000 escaped slaves, existed. They held out from 1605 – 1694, but fell to an army sent against them.
06FACT No 6
Slavery is mentioned in man´s earliest known law code, the Code of Hammurabi – 1760 BC. Jesus also heals a slave and commends his faith.
05FACT No 5
Robert Smalls, a slave, stole a Confederate ship and gave it to the Union. He became a Major General, bought the house he had been a slave in and became a Congressman.
04FACT No 4
The first Memorial Day ever held was by 10.000 former slaves in 1865. They gathered at the Washington Race Course to honor the dead of the Civil war.
03FACT No 3
“White Trash” has its root in black slave culture. First attested in 1850, it is a reference to low born, servile white men, who couldn’t afford their own slaves.
02FACT No 2
Dr. Cartwright created a mental illness called “Drapetomania”. It supposedly caused slaves to run away. Remedies included removal of the big toes.
01FACT No 1
Banned in every country in the world, there are more slaves today than ever before. Of 27 million, 50.000 are in the United States.
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