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1442
Portugal enslaves the Berbers
The system began in the late 1430s with coastal raids in Africa. However, this quickly transitioned into open trade with African slavers and nobles. The Pope even permitted this, as long as all slaves were converted to Christianity. This conversion to Christianity was used as a justification for the furthering of this trade. -
1502
New World slavery of Africans begins in Hispaniola
At first, the Spanish settlers enslaved the local Native American population in Hispaniola. However, they soon began replacing them with African slaves. Many of these slaves were sent to work in mines. This would establish the precedent for future slavery in the New World. Escaped slaves would go on to form new communities where they often mixed with native populations, forming new cultures. -
1542
New Laws of 1542
The New Laws were one of the first attempts to curb the slave trade by the Spanish. It sought to end the enslavement of native populations, but still forced them to pay tribute. It afforded the native populations many rights they were once deprived of. These new laws would lead to many revolts from the settlers and conquistadors in the Americas, especially in Peru. -
1562
John Hawkins commands the first English slave-trading expedition
John Hawkins, an English naval commander and privateer, would become one of the central figures of the slave trade. In his first voyage, he would capture three hundred slaves from Sierra Leone, and sell them in the Americas. This would lead to the crown funding future voyages for the purpose of slavery. -
Formation of the Royal African Company
The Royal African Company was an English company set up to trade along the coast of Africa. The company was allowed to set up forts and factories, maintain troops, and even enforce martial law in Africa. The company was very profitable, and would ship more slaves to the Americas than any other country, having a massive impact on and helping perpetuate the brutal triangular trade. -
Maroons establish new communities in Jamacia
In the wake of the British invasion of Jamaica, escaped Spanish slaves would form new communities. These escaped slaves would be called Maroons. They would survive by establishing remote, defensible communities, where they would farm, hunt, and develop herbal medicines. They would mix with native populations, forming new cultures. -
The Code Noir
The Code Noir was a decree passed by Louis XIV in 1685. The decree would define slavery in France, and further oppress free people of color. The decree also expelled Jews from all of their colonies. The document would further cement France in the slave trade, and would further encourage slavery in New France. -
The Maroon Wars
The First Maroon War would start in 1728 and last until 1740. It was fought by the Maroons, escaped slaves in Jamaica who sought to preserve their freedom from the British. They would utilize a series of tactics that would foreshadow modern guerilla warfare. These tactics would see their victory, and the British would offer them peace. -
Migration to Sierra Leone.
In 1787, the British government would relocate three hundred freed slaves to Sierra Leone. Unfortunately, almost all of these people would pass away either from disease or from warfare with locals. In 1792, a second attempt was made when freed loyalist slaves would seek to form Freetown in Sierra Leone. The town would become a safe haven for slaves all over the world, and even people from West Africa would seek it. -
The Slave Trade Act
The Slave Trade Act was an act signed in 1807 that would prohibit the trade of slaves in the British Empire. Although this would limit the trade, it did not explicitly outlaw slavery itself. This would not happen until the Slavery Abolition act of 1833. The Slavery Abolition act would see slavery abolished in most parts of the British Empire.
