Before 1700: How Chattel Slavery Shaped the Concept of Race

This essay examines the influence of chattel slavery on the emergence of "race" before 1700. It argues that while slavery existed in the ancient world, the specific form of chattel slavery in America, driven by the need for labor in plantations, played a significant role in shaping racial perceptions. The essay discusses how European colonists developed biases towards Africans and Native Indians due to differences in skin color, culture, and religious values. Africans were seen as fit for harsh labor due to their ability to endure extreme conditions, leading to their dehumanization and the creation of slave codes that facilitated racism. The essay concludes that the association of black skin with servitude and inhuman treatment solidified the concept of race during this period. Desklib offers a wealth of resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to aid students in their studies.

2. How did the development of chattel slavery influence the emergence of "race"
before 1700?
Slavery is defined as bondage and subjugation of people for labour and other work.
The history of slavery can be dated back to ancient world when the captives of battles were
imprisoned and made to do tough labor by their masters1. The slavery and bondage labor
were rampant in America from the end of 16th to the initial years of 17th century, and were
present for varied purposes and kinds. In United States, the phenomenon could be attributed
to the chattel slavery which started before 1700. Though the chattel slavery was initiated with
the intent of labor in plantations, it also led to the emergence “race”, as people noted the
difference in color, physical attributes and lifestyle.
The Europeans migrated to United States with the intent of colonization, and
exploitation of the local resources. However, they felt a dire need of labour for the
manufacture of gods and services. Majority of the Native Indians had died due to the onset of
diseases that the European invaders got with them and also because of their exploitation.
Thus, there were not much people left who could do the labor jobs on agriculture, plantations
and mining production. Thus, Africans were bargained, and bought into America as human
cargo on ships. The mass export of Africans from their homeland set the stage for the chattel
slavery2.
A prime reason for the rise of race was not just the chattel slavery, but the difference
in color, physical attributes and the lifestyle that whites found between them and the
Africans. They were deemed fit to work on plantation because of their ability to endure
working on tough terrains and in extreme conditions. The specialized produce from these
plantations were sold in the international markets by their masters3. In return, they were kept
1 Michael Guasco, Slaves and Englishmen: Human Bondage in the Early Modern Atlantic
World (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2014).
2 Asante, Molefi Kete, The History of Africa. London: Routledge, 2007
3 Philip Curtin, The Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex: Essays in Atlantic History (New
York: Cambridge University Press, 1990), 40

in dehumanized control and given draconian punishments for any mistakes. Their movement
were restricted and slave code formed to facilitate racism to structure the plantation system.4
The European invaders settled in America Colonies in the start of 17th century had
developed deep biases towards Africans and Native Indians because of their differences in
skin color, culture and religious values. The stark difference in their black skin color
intimidated the white Europeans, and they considered them inferior because of it. Further, the
lifestyle of the Africans were such which gave them the capability to work in harsh
conditions such as extreme heat, and the unfavorable situations. Thus, they were able to
perform hard labor on plantations which in turn resulted in high produce. Thus, the Africans
and Native Indians were regarded as outsiders and different from their own kind. The
immunity from the harsh working conditions made them suitable for hereditary slavery for
their entire lifespan and also for the inhuman exploitation as a part of the chattel slavery.5
Thus, the black race became synonymous with doing all sort of petty work and being
subjugated to inhuman treatment.
4 Curtin, Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex, 11–13
5 Eltis, Rise of African Slavery, 57–84.

References
Michael Guasco, Slaves and Englishmen: Human Bondage in the Early Modern Atlantic
World (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2014).
Asante, Molefi Kete, The History of Africa. London: Routledge, 2007
Philip Curtin, The Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex: Essays in Atlantic History (New
York: Cambridge University Press, 1990), 40
Curtin, Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex, 11–13
Eltis, Rise of African Slavery, 57–84.