Slavery is a relationship that is established between two individuals and that implies the complete and absolute dominance of one towards the other. In general, this domain is established through force, transforming the slave into an object or possession of the owner, for which he ends up losing not only his freedom but also his human condition and dignity.
Because of this loss of dignity, slavery is one of the most perverse relationships that people have maintained since ancient times, especially in those cases in which the master's treatment of his slave was characterized by violence and humiliation. .
Slavery throughout history
Especially characteristic and original of ancient societies such as those of Egypt, the Middle East, Greece and Rome, slavery survived them and could last well into the 19th and early 20th centuries in some regions of the planet.
Fortunately, the new ideas promoted by the movements that emerged in these times, which especially promoted individual freedoms, were fundamental in putting an end to the slavery relationship. Because let's say that it was a common practice of the well-to-do classes to have slaves who did the heavy and domestic chores.
Slavery takes shape from the belief that some individuals are sufficiently superior to others (using arguments such as history, tradition, race, or economic superiority) to subjugate them and transform them into possessions that must serve the interests and the wishes of those who possess them. Normally, slavery existed in Humanity in the labor sense, exploiting slaves in order to obtain more economic benefits whatever the specific situation. The slaves have also been used as domestic servants to the direct answer of their masters.
The cases of slavery in the History of Humanity are many and they are always impregnated with very bloody and very violent stories since the majority involve the absolute mistreatment, abuse and denigration of the individuals who suffer it. Many masters believed that only through submission and force would they achieve the slave's favor and absolute loyalty.
Traditionally, slaves were either individuals who could not support themselves and who then had to give their freedom to whoever could keep them, or prisoners of war dominated by highly militarized societies.
One of the most recognized and representative cases of slavery worldwide has been the phenomenon that took place with the colonization of America. From there, the European powers populated the new continent with slave labor brought from Africa in the worst conditions and put to work without any type of right or recognition. Even these Spanish colonizers knew how to turn the natives of those lands into slaves. At first they were convinced of their friendship and selflessness, however, with time and with the discovery of riches they also subdued them and many ended up becoming slaves.
Enough of slaves
Then, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, brought new airs in this sense and so it is that in many parts of the planet, especially also in those colonies that at that time were beginning to fight for their independence, it was decided to abolish slavery.
21st century slavery
Although today all this state of affairs that we exposed would seem that it was very far away in time and that slavery is just a bad memory in history, we must say that it is not so, unfortunately.
Despite the social conquests of minorities and the advances that have been achieved in every sense in these times, there are many parts of the world that still continue to use slavery as in the most remote times, almost as if human beings had not evolved in social matters. Incredible but real…
We must also mention that slavery has evolved into practices such as the trafficking of women and children, who are taken by unscrupulous characters to exploit them sexually and for work. Obviously, children and women with fewer resources are the population most likely to fall into these circumstances.
