Is there a significant difference between African slavery and American slavery?

Answer 1

No, except African slavery still exists. While both types of slavery were based on the need for a cheap labor force and in many cases to control a cultural minority, ancient slavery was based on who was defeated in battle or was sold into slavery (by a poor parent or as a debtor), not nessesarialy race, while American slavery was based on race above everything else. In ancient Rome for example, anyone who was in need of money could sell their son or daughter into slavery, even a Roman. They beleived that slaves were human beings, just of a lower social class. Many famous Romans even encouraged good treatment of slaves on moral grounds. In American slavery, however, African-Americans were seen as inferior and not even human, simply animals or farm equipment.