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Enslavement

Definition

Enslavement refers to the practice of capturing and forcing individuals into a state of permanent bondage, where they are treated as property and denied basic human rights. In the context of the Spanish colonial system, it specifically refers to the enslavement of indigenous peoples.

Analogy

Enslavement is like being trapped in a never-ending game of tag where you can never be free. Just as being tagged means you have no control over your movements or choices, enslaved individuals were stripped of their freedom and treated as possessions by their captors.

Related terms

Indentured Servitude: Indentured servitude involved labor contracts that bound individuals to work for a specific period in exchange for passage to America or other benefits.

Triangular Trade: The triangular trade was a three-way trading system between Europe, Africa, and the Americas that involved the exchange of goods including slaves.

Middle Passage: The Middle Passage was the brutal voyage across the Atlantic Ocean that transported enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas.