Question
In 1652, the Netherlands’ preeminent trading company decided to establish a permanent settlement on the southwest coast of South Africa. Sometimes referred to as the world’s first multinational corporation, the Dutch East India Company was a trading colossus that brought porcelain, spices, and other foreign goods from Asia to Europe. Traders often sailed around the southern tip of Africa on their trade routes, so setting up an outpost where ships could be serviced and restocked seemed like a practical idea.
While some company officials had settled in the area as agricultural producers, the Dutch still did not have enough labor to provide for their ships. To address this, they began to import enslaved people from West Africa and India before eventually turning to the local population. Captives were forced to work as farmers, hunters, animal herders, and domestic servants as Dutch settlers sought to grow the colonial economy and maintain racial supremacy for the minority White population.
In 1834, under British rule, South Africa’s enslaved population was emancipated. But even today, the legacy of slavery remains visible throughout the country. The diversity of language, culture, and religion that characterizes South Africa today stems directly from this history. So, too, does the rise of apartheid, another system of racial hierarchy that dominated South African life in the 20th century.
Which of the following is true of slavery in South Africa?
A
It began with the enslavement of foreigners.
B
It created cultural and linguistic homogeneity.
C
It was abolished under Dutch colonial rule.
D
It was a descendent of the apartheid state.
While some company officials had settled in the area as agricultural producers, the Dutch still did not have enough labor to provide for their ships. To address this, they began to import enslaved people from West Africa and India before eventually turning to the local population. Captives were forced to work as farmers, hunters, animal herders, and domestic servants as Dutch settlers sought to grow the colonial economy and maintain racial supremacy for the minority White population.
In 1834, under British rule, South Africa’s enslaved population was emancipated. But even today, the legacy of slavery remains visible throughout the country. The diversity of language, culture, and religion that characterizes South Africa today stems directly from this history. So, too, does the rise of apartheid, another system of racial hierarchy that dominated South African life in the 20th century.
Which of the following is true of slavery in South Africa?
A
It began with the enslavement of foreigners.
B
It created cultural and linguistic homogeneity.
C
It was abolished under Dutch colonial rule.
D
It was a descendent of the apartheid state.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is:
A. It began with the enslavement of foreigners.
This statement is true as the initial enslaved people brought to South Africa were from West Africa and India, which were foreign to the local population. The other options are not accurate representations of the historical context of slavery in South Africa.
A. It began with the enslavement of foreigners.
This statement is true as the initial enslaved people brought to South Africa were from West Africa and India, which were foreign to the local population. The other options are not accurate representations of the historical context of slavery in South Africa.