Question

How did slavery in the ancient world differ from slavery in the Americas? (1 point) Responses In the ancient world, people were slaves for life. In the ancient world, people were slaves for life. In the ancient world, children of slaves were born into slavery. In the ancient world, children of slaves were born into slavery. In the ancient world, slaves were often war captives or debtors. In the ancient world, slaves were often war captives or debtors. In the ancient world, millions of slaves were shipped from their home to other countries.

Answer 1

Slavery in the ancient world differed from slavery in the Americas in several key aspects:

1. Lifespan of Slavery: In many ancient societies, slavery was not always for life and could be temporary. Slaves could sometimes earn their freedom or be released after a certain period or as a reward for loyalty.

2. Birth Status: In the ancient world, while some societies did have hereditary slavery, it was not universally enforced. In contrast, in the Americas, children born to enslaved people were typically also enslaved, leading to a system of generational slavery.

3. Origins of Slavery: In ancient times, many slaves were acquired through warfare or as a consequence of debt. While this was also true in the Americas, the transatlantic slave trade involved the mass capture and shipping of millions of people specifically for the purpose of enslavement, which was a distinctive aspect of slavery in the Americas.

4. Scale and Systemization: Slavery in the Americas involved large-scale plantation systems and racialized chattel slavery, where enslaved people were treated as property. This was more systematic and brutal compared to many ancient societies, where slavery could sometimes involve more varied roles, including skilled labor.

Overall, while slavery has existed in many forms throughout history, the institution of slavery in the ancient world was often less rigid and less racially defined than the chattel slavery that developed in the Americas.