7 Slaving and power
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Janel M. Fontaine
Abstract
The final chapter examines the ways in which rulers responded to slaving, arguing that their attempts to control the terms by which individuals could be enslaved and sold appear to have always been reactionary. From the tenth century they indicate a mounting concern in the face of escalating slaving, and this is most evident in England, where law codes and penitentials survive from the entire early medieval period, though a similar, if slower-paced, concern is hinted at by law fragments in Bohemian texts. Where centralization programmes occurred later or were poorly documented, as in Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, these concerns were not codified. Although English and Bohemian rulers attempted to extend limited control over slaving in law, they were active beneficiaries of the trade through taxes and involvement in raiding.
Abstract
The final chapter examines the ways in which rulers responded to slaving, arguing that their attempts to control the terms by which individuals could be enslaved and sold appear to have always been reactionary. From the tenth century they indicate a mounting concern in the face of escalating slaving, and this is most evident in England, where law codes and penitentials survive from the entire early medieval period, though a similar, if slower-paced, concern is hinted at by law fragments in Bohemian texts. Where centralization programmes occurred later or were poorly documented, as in Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, these concerns were not codified. Although English and Bohemian rulers attempted to extend limited control over slaving in law, they were active beneficiaries of the trade through taxes and involvement in raiding.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vi
- List of abbreviations vii
- Maps ix
- Introduction 1
- I The economics of slave trading 17
- 1 Slavery within the slaving zones 19
- 2 External demand 46
- 3 Making slaves 75
- II Logistics and strategies of slaving 103
- 4 Warfare and enslavement 105
- 5 Small-scale slave trading 143
- 6 High-demand systems 165
- 7 Slaving and power 201
- Epilogue 230
- Bibliography 243
- Index 273
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vi
- List of abbreviations vii
- Maps ix
- Introduction 1
- I The economics of slave trading 17
- 1 Slavery within the slaving zones 19
- 2 External demand 46
- 3 Making slaves 75
- II Logistics and strategies of slaving 103
- 4 Warfare and enslavement 105
- 5 Small-scale slave trading 143
- 6 High-demand systems 165
- 7 Slaving and power 201
- Epilogue 230
- Bibliography 243
- Index 273
