Slavery was everywhere, as it was the only way during those times people could advance economically. People used slaves the way we use machines - to prosper. To go out on a limb, slavery would likely still be around in a big way today if nobody invented anything.
As far as why blacks were enslaved - likely tons of reasons. But there are a lot of stories, some true, about black people in Africa capturing their brothers, and selling them as slaves to the people that came there wanting them. A system of ethics and morality never seemed to develop. And in Africa, with all the animals around, it's not that surprising. It's eat, or be eaten played out every single day.
And I don't know if this had anything to do with it, but black people seemed to be able to endure the suffering of slavery.
You can take this discussion almost any avenue you want. The Buddhist religion and Indian caste systems are perfect platforms if you want people to accept their lot in life, and not think they should have any other choice.
Originally Posted by VitaMan
Look...I will explain why. If you're a creationist this will be easier to understand. I tried giving evolution a chance but they couldn't make their case adequately enough so I'm rolling with Albert Einstein who believes that God exists but is impersonal to us. The other thing is there are no transitional fossils in existence that prove evolution. Not a single one. There should be some historical footprint that shows the transition from organism to organism in somewhat of a progressive manner that would prove evolution. (e.g. fish to monkey to man) Instead I decided to settle on a detached Creator due to the detailed intracasies and complexities of life that is duplicated in every mammal. Sorry but that is not accidental it's Super intellectual design on a scale that's simply incomprehensible. (E.g brain, heart, lungs). Sex being pleasurable is another concrete and complex example of purposeful design if God gave the degree to be fruitful and multiply the population according to it's kind. I digress so on to my point.
My view is that enlightenment didn't come to blacks first (there are some exceptions such as me) and thus enslavement ensued because of the Creators will. God may have created blacks first as a pilot or test for suitability and compatibility on earths harsh environment. It's the very reason most of us have nappy or kinky hair because of the climate he originally intended. After awhile he decided to create a different cosmetic version of humans with lighter skin and finer hair for a different climate on earth.
As for the enslavement component it's simple. Since God created us blacks as a prototype for the African climate tens of thousands of years before anyone else it meant that all of our focus was on survival and not enlightenment. As cro-magnons we had to form patrols to fight off the superior physical mammals such as powerful herds that roamed Africa such as Lions, Sabre-tooth Tigers, Bears, Hyenas, Wolly Mammoths, poisonous serpants, thousands of angry Monkeys. Lol all of these animals were much more vicious and ferocious back then. So we spent all of out time just trying to survive.
By the time we learned to contain the animals we then had to learn to tame each other...so we never really had time for enlightenment. We settled for tribal life cuz it's all we knew. By the time the white man showed up we were excellent prime candidates for slavery all because God created us as his initial prototype or pilot test.
I need to refine this thesis and add it to an official timeline but it is indeed mine.
Enjoy