ESCRAVIDÃO NO BRASIL: Quanto Tempo Durou e Como Aconteceu

Summary

This video explores the history of slavery in Brazil, starting from its inception in 1535 and lasting until its abolition in 1888. It delves into the reasons behind the use of enslaved labor, including the scarcity of Portuguese settlers and the profitability of the transatlantic slave trade. The script discusses the harsh conditions enslaved people faced, including their forced labor on plantations, mines, and in domestic service. Resistance through revolts and the formation of Quilombos, along with various laws that eventually led to abolition, are highlighted. The lasting repercussions of slavery, including racism and social inequality, are also explored.

Takeaways

• 😀 Slavery in Brazil began in 1535 and lasted for 353 years, ending with the Golden Law on May 13, 1888.
• 😀 Portugal's small population led to the use of slave labor in Brazil, where slavery was already practiced in Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.
• 😀 The transatlantic slave trade was a profitable business for European nations, who overcrowded slave ships, leading to high mortality rates among enslaved Africans.
• 😀 Indigenous people were also enslaved in Brazil through intertribal wars and alliances with the Portuguese, though African slaves became the primary labor force.
• 😀 Enslaved Africans faced brutal conditions during their transportation to Brazil, with an estimated third of them dying during the journey.
• 😀 Upon arrival in Brazil, enslaved people were sold and forced to work in harsh conditions, often in plantations, mining, and domestic service.
• 😀 Revolts and resistance from enslaved people led to the formation of Quilombos—hidden communities that offered freedom and cultural preservation.
• 😀 The Feijó Law of 1831 granted freedom to all enslaved individuals arriving in Brazil, creating a pathway for many to secure manumission.
• 😀 The abolition of slavery was influenced by liberal ideas from the Enlightenment and the rise of industrial capitalism, which led European countries to abolish slavery.
• 😀 Slavery in Brazil officially ended with the Golden Law in 1888, though it left former enslaved individuals without any support or plans for their future integration.
• 😀 The legacy of slavery in Brazil continues to be felt through social inequality, racism, and the survival of Quilombos, where Afro-Brazilian culture is preserved.

Q & A

When did slavery begin in Brazil and when was it abolished?

Slavery in Brazil began in 1535 and was abolished on May 13, 1888, through the Golden Law.

Why did the Portuguese use slave labor in Brazil?

The Portuguese used slave labor in Brazil because of a lack of their own population to send to the colonies and the profitability of the slave trade, which was already a practice in Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.

What role did Bandeiras play in the enslavement of indigenous people?

Bandeiras were expeditions led by Portuguese men to capture indigenous people through intertribal wars or alliances with tribes, and they sold the captured people into slavery.

Why were African slaves preferred over indigenous people in Brazil?

Africans were preferred for slavery over indigenous people because they were seen as more suitable for hard labor, and enslaving indigenous people was opposed by religious groups, such as the Jesuits.

How brutal was the journey for enslaved Africans to Brazil?

The journey was extremely brutal, with estimates suggesting that one-third of enslaved Africans did not survive the crossing due to overcrowding, harsh conditions, and disease on the slave ships, known as 'tumbeiros'.

What were some of the harsh conditions enslaved people faced once they arrived in Brazil?

Enslaved people were forced to work from sunrise to sunset, lived in dark, unhygienic quarters, received poor food, and faced physical punishment for mistakes or delays in production.

What were Quilombos, and why were they significant?

Quilombos were hidden communities formed by escaped enslaved people in the forest, such as the famous Quilombo dos Palmares, where they could live freely and practice their culture and religion.

What were some ways enslaved people could gain their freedom?

Enslaved people could gain freedom through manumission, which could be granted by their owners, or through legal means such as purchasing their freedom or receiving a letter of manumission from the court.

How did the European Enlightenment influence the abolition of slavery?

The European Enlightenment, which promoted ideas of liberty and human rights, led to growing opposition to slavery. These ideas, along with economic changes, played a key role in challenging the institution of slavery.

What were the key laws that led to the abolition of slavery in Brazil?

The key laws included the Feijó Law (1831), which granted freedom to enslaved people arriving in Brazil, the Eusébio de Queirós Law (1850), which abolished the slave trade, and the Golden Law (1888), which fully abolished slavery.