Which of the following was a main reason people were enslaved in ancient times?

Question

religion
political alliances
power and warfare
race

Answer 1

The main reason people were enslaved in ancient times was primarily related to power and warfare. Conquerors often enslaved individuals from defeated populations as a means of demonstrating power, controlling populations, and providing labor. While other factors like religion and political alliances may have played roles in certain contexts, the direct result of military conquest and the need for labor were the predominant reasons for slavery in ancient societies. Race as a basis for slavery was more pronounced in later historical contexts, particularly in the transatlantic slave trade.