Plantation economies were built on the backs of slaves from "summary" of Capitalism & Slavery by Eric Eustace Williams
The wealth of the Western world was built upon sugar and slavery. The plantation system that produced these commodities relied entirely on the labor of enslaved Africans. The profits generated from this system fueled the growth of capitalism and industrialization in Europe. The sugar plantations of the Caribbean were the most profitable enterprises of their time, producing vast amounts of wealth for their owners. However, this wealth came at a great cost - the lives and freedom of millions of enslaved Africans. The triangular trade system that emerged during this period was a brutal and exploitative system. African slaves were captured and transported across the Atlantic Ocean to work on plantations in the Americas. The conditions on these slave ships were horrific, with many slaves dying during the journey. Those who survived were subjected to brutal treatment and harsh living conditions on the plantations. The profits from the sale of sugar and other commodities produced by these enslaved workers lined the pockets of European merchants and planters. The plantation economy was built on the dehumanization and exploitation of African slaves. They were treated as property, bought and sold like livestock. Their labor was extracted through violence and coercion, with punishments ranging from physical abuse to death. The profits derived from this system were used to fund the development of European countries, including the financing of wars and the expansion of empires. The legacy of slavery and the plantation economy continues to impact the world today. The wealth and power accumulated by European countries during this period have had lasting effects on global economic and social structures. The exploitation of African labor laid the foundation for modern capitalism, shaping the inequalities and injustices that persist in society. The history of slavery must be acknowledged and confronted in order to address the systemic inequalities that continue to exist.
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