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History of Portugal |
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Forced labour and slavery |
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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 black slaves was banned in European Portugal in 1761 by the Marquis of Pombal, and at the same time, the trade of black slaves to Brazil was encouraged, with the support and direct involvement of the Marquis.[1][2] Slavery in Portugal was only abolished in 1869.[3][4]
The Atlantic slave trade began circa 1336 or 1341, [5][6][7][8] when Portuguese traders brought the first canarian slaves to Europe.[9] In 1526, Portuguese mariners carried the first shipload of African slaves to Brazil in the Americas, establishing the triangular Atlantic slave trade.