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These are, IMO, exceptions. Most slaves probably got worked half to death, beaten, and generally abused. Certainly history tells us that many slaves simply died
by defined 9y ago
These are, IMO, exceptions. Most slaves probably got worked half to death, beaten, and generally abused. Certainly history tells us that many slaves simply died en route from where they were captured. I can't prove this, but it's much more likely than the fate of high-status slaves.
- thaumasiotes 9y ago> Most slaves probably got worked half to death, beaten, and generally abused. No, this is uncommon, for the same reason beasts of burden were generally not worked half to death, beaten, and generally abused. They are valuable.
- Mz 9y agoThat varies depending on time and place. There were islands in the Caribbean (IIRC) where slaves had a life expectancy of 3 years after arriving from Africa. After importations of slaves were banned, but slavery was not outlawed, the slave population was shrinking. Births could not keep up with deaths. Though, tbf, some of what I read about that surmised that slaves had to be using some form of birth control as well (as a form of protest to the brutal conditions).
- thaumasiotes 9y agoYes, I believe slave populations suffered horrific death rates almost everywhere in the new world except for the US south, where they flourished. That was seen as a major problem by slaveholders, though, not a feature. If they'd known how to stop the slaves from dying, they would have.
- Mz 9y agoYes, I suppose so. That probably falls under "Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity." Sorry, I wasn't looking to shoot you down. I read some very interesting research into this some years ago and I basically participate here to get some chance to talk with people.