Europeans explained and justified slavery through a combination of religious, racial, economic, and legal arguments that evolved over time.
Religious Justifications
- In medieval Europe, slavery was often justified by religious difference. Non-Christians, pagans, heretics, and enemies captured in war were considered legitimate targets for enslavement because they were seen as outside the Christian community. Conversion to Christianity theoretically offered a path to freedom, but this was inconsistently applied
- The biblical "Curse of Ham" was used as a major Christian justification, especially for enslaving people of African descent. Although the original biblical text does not mention race or skin color, many medieval and later Christian, Jewish, and Muslim scholars interpreted it as a divine sanction for enslaving black Africans
- Papal bulls in the 15th century, such as those by Pope Nicholas V (1452) and Pope Alexander VI (1493), granted European monarchs the right to invade non-Christian lands and enslave their inhabitants, framing conquest and enslavement as part of a Christian mission to spread the faith
Racial Justifications
- To avoid religious exemption for Christian converts, European slaveholders constructed the concept of a white European race as inherently superior to non-Europeans. This racial hierarchy became a legal, military, and religious basis for the long-term enslavement of Africans and indigenous peoples in the Americas
- The idea of race as a justification for slavery developed further from the 15th century onward, linking African enslavement to supposed racial inferiority and divine curse, which helped Europeans rationalize the transatlantic slave trade and racial discrimination
Economic and Social Justifications
- Europeans needed a large, cheap labor force for their plantations and mines in the Americas. When European indentured servants were insufficient or unwilling to endure harsh conditions, enslaved Africans and indigenous peoples were used to meet labor demands
- Some Europeans argued that slavery was beneficial or moral, claiming it introduced Africans to Christianity and civilization, and that economic incentives encouraged better treatment of slaves compared to African slaveholders
- The balance of power in Europe and the development of individual rights for Europeans contrasted with the enslavement of non-Europeans, which was justified by seeing them as fundamentally different and suitable for coerced labor
Legal and Cultural Justifications
- Medieval European laws often linked slavery to warfare, criminal punishment, or religious difference. Slavery was seen as lawful under the "law of nations," and slaves were considered property, which was contrary to nature but legally sanctioned
- The conflation of ethnic and religious differences allowed Europeans to justify enslaving non-Christian outsiders, who were portrayed as enemies of the faith and civilization
In summary, Europeans justified slavery by framing it as a religious duty to convert and civilize non-Christians, by constructing racial hierarchies that deemed non-Europeans inferior, and by economic necessity for labor in colonial enterprises. These justifications were supported by legal codes, religious doctrine, and emerging racial ideologies that evolved from medieval times through the Atlantic slave trade era
