1 Slavery within the slaving zones
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Janel M. Fontaine
Abstract
This chapter examines the demand for slaves and unfree labour in the British Isles and the Czech lands, serving as an introduction to slavery in these areas by outlining the types of labour performed by slaves, and their presence in agricultural or domestic, rural or urban contexts. This chapter also highlights the types of source material in which slaves, especially foreign slaves, appear, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the source material for each region, which either enhance or skew our perceptions of slavery and its distribution. Source limitations ultimately mean that an assessment of changing demand for these regions is necessarily speculative, but the overall picture in both the British Isles and the Czech lands is one without any drastic shifts in the demand for slave labour between the seventh and eleventh centuries, though it is significant to note that slavery was present and accepted throughout this period.
Abstract
This chapter examines the demand for slaves and unfree labour in the British Isles and the Czech lands, serving as an introduction to slavery in these areas by outlining the types of labour performed by slaves, and their presence in agricultural or domestic, rural or urban contexts. This chapter also highlights the types of source material in which slaves, especially foreign slaves, appear, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the source material for each region, which either enhance or skew our perceptions of slavery and its distribution. Source limitations ultimately mean that an assessment of changing demand for these regions is necessarily speculative, but the overall picture in both the British Isles and the Czech lands is one without any drastic shifts in the demand for slave labour between the seventh and eleventh centuries, though it is significant to note that slavery was present and accepted throughout this period.
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
