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.

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.