Slavery in Portugal

Slavery in Portugal existed since before the country's formation. During the pre-independence period, inhabitants of the current Portuguese territory were often enslaved and enslaved others. After independence, during the existence of the Kingdom of Portugal, the country played a leading role in the Atlantic slave trade, which involved the mass trade and transportation of slaves from Africa and other parts of the world to the American continent. The import of slaves was banned in European Portugal in 1761 by the Marquês de Pombal. However, slavery within the African Portuguese colonies was only abolished in 1869.[1][2]

The Atlantic slave trade began in 1444, when Portuguese traders brought the first large number of slaves from Africa to Europe. In 1526, Portuguese mariners carried the first shipload of African slaves to Brazil in the Americas, establishing the Atlantic slave trade.

  1. ^ "Slavevoyages.org: Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade – Estimates". Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. ^ Evans, David (2014). "The Chocolate Makers and the "Abyss of Hell"". British Historical Society of Portugal Annual Report. 41.

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