Many countries and cultures over the centuries
have used slaves to work their fields, clean their homes and a variety of
other jobs.
Greece
In Greece people enslaved others as they founded the first democracies.
Slaves in Greece had no rights in courts of law.
A slave could buy his freedom or someone could give it as a gift.
Slaves working in the mines suffered through hard work and terrible conditions.
Brazil
Portuguese colonists in Brazil needed slaves for their sugar plantations,
and gold, and silver mines.
By the 19th century, Brazil had 2 million slaves-half of the countries population.
The Catholic Church improved some aspects of slave’s lives. The church
encouraged proper church marriages among slaves.
Egypt
The ancient Egyptians enslaved Hebrews, Babylonians, and other war captives.
Many years after Joseph, and Moses led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt and
into freedom.
Later slaves rose to rule Egypt. 67 years later they had to become slaves
again.
For more information click on the following link:
http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/slavery/world.html