Was the American Slave Master the Most Savage Master of Them All?

The notion that Christopher Columbus may have been the most formidable opponent in the competition for the 'savage master' title has been challenged by historical events from around the world. This article explores the brutality of various forms of slavery, from ancient Greek Spartanism to the Atlantic slave trade, highlighting why the claim of American slavery being the cruelest might be an oversimplification.

Ancient Greece and the Way of the Warrior

Britain may not have had the monopoly on savagery, but ancient Greece, particularly Sparta, had its own incentive systems for brutality. The Spartans viewed the act of murdering a slave as a form of manly bravado. What distinguished their practice was the secrecy: the success of the murder was more important than the act itself. This primacy on stealth and the success of murder was valued highly in Spartan culture.

Further evidence of the gruesome nature of ancient slavery can be seen in the aftermath of the Third Servile War, also known as the Spartacus uprising. Following its suppression, the Romans took to displaying their victory by crucifying over 20,000 captured slaves along the Appian Way—a stark reminder of their cruelty.

Islamic/Arab Slave Trade and its Brutality

While the Atlantic slave trade from Africa to the Americas is often in the spotlight, it is important to consider the Islamic/Arab slave trade, which operated over a much longer period. Over half of the kidnapped Africans did not end up in the Atlantic slave trade but in the Arab/Islamic slave trade. Castration of young males was a common and horrifying practice, with an inexplicably high fatality rate. Despite the fact that such high mortality rates were not tolerated in other practices like horse gelding, the Islamic/Arab slave trade showed no such restraint.

These barbaric practices were widespread and included the exploitation of Africans over an extended period. The sheer scale and duration of the Islamic/Arab slave trade make it a significant historically relevant form of slavery often ignored in discussions like this.

The Atlantic Slave Trade and the American Institution

For the Atlantic slave trade, the majority of the approximately 12.5 million slaves transported across the Atlantic went to Brazil (over 80%). The objective was to extract value from the new colonies by exploiting these human beings to the fullest extent, often causing their premature demise. In Brazil, the life expectancy was just 2 years, making it cheaper to get another slave rather than provide even rudimentary care. Only 10% of the slaves went to the Caribbean, but even there, life expectancy was extremely low (almost as bad as in Brazil).

The demographic makeup of the Caribbean was heavily influenced by the Atlantic slave trade. After 250 years of slavery, during the Haitian revolution, over 75% of the population were Africans born into the slave system, with death rates far exceeding birth rates.

North American Slavery: A Different Reality

Contrary to the grim statistics of the South American and Caribbean regions, North America garnered only less than five percent of the total kidnapped Africans. Yet, the situation was not as dire as in other parts of the Americas. The birth rate in North America did exceed the death rate, and the life expectancy was roughly 90% of the owners, indicating a somewhat better living condition for slaves in North America compared to the Caribbean and Brazil.

Historically, slavery predates the written word itself, making it a prehistoric institution. The inherent barbarity of slavery is undeniable, yet to claim the North American institution as the cruelest must be approached critically. The claim that the North American institution was the cruelest of them all disregards the broader historical background and the substantial factual evidence provided by the diverse forms of slavery throughout history.

In conclusion, while the American slave master's methods were indeed alarming, they were part of a continuum of brutal practices across different historical and geographical contexts.