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Essay on Slaves
From North to South, and from East to West, the African continent became intimately connected with slavery both as one of the principal areas in the world where slavery was common, and also as a major source of slaves for ancient civilization, the medieval world and all the continents of the modern period.
The family life of the slaves had been subject to continuous humiliation of their white masters. They did not enjoy a family living like their owners. Some writers held that the slaves never had a family. The slave women were a supposed to be temporary companions for their masters and provided them pleasures they wanted (David, 2000). The children of such relationships were also considered as slaves despite of their fathers’ status and position. The white masters always fathered the children of numerous female slaves. These wretched offspring were also the lawful slaves of their father, and worked in his house and plantations. These children had no right to their fathers’ property and instead served their white half-brothers and sisters. Their masters often sold them to the slave-traders.
There were five major means by which slaves were acquired in Africa for both internal use and external demand. These were warfare, market supply, raiding and kidnapping, tribute and pawning (Paul, 2000).
Prisoners of war
were enslaved and they usually constituted the largest proportion of the total slave output. Warfare was rife among the savanna and forest states of West, East, Central and Southern Africa.
Many markets
were established along the length and breadth of the continent and members of royalty as well as free individuals could go to any of these markets to purchase slaves. The famous markets were those established along the caravan routes (Henry, 2000). In North and West Africa all the markets along the trans-Saharan routes were important suppliers of slaves.....
