The commodification of human beings fueled the capitalist economy from "summary" of Capitalism & Slavery by Eric Eustace Williams
The transformation of human beings into commodities was a fundamental aspect of the development of the capitalist economy. By treating individuals as mere objects to be bought and sold, the machinery of capitalism was able to extract maximum profit from their labor. This dehumanization of individuals reduced them to the status of property, to be traded and exploited for the benefit of those in power. This commodification of human beings was particularly pronounced in the context of the transatlantic slave trade. Enslaved Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and transported across the ocean to work on plantations in the Americas. Their labor was essential to the production of valuable commodities such as sugar, cotton, and tobacco, which were then sold for profit in the global market. The commodification of human beings had far-reaching consequences for both the enslaved individuals and the capitalist economy as a whole. For the enslaved, it meant a life of brutal exploitation, in which their labor was extracted through violence and coercion. For the capitalist economy, it meant a ready source of cheap labor that could be used to generate enormous profits for plantation owners and merchants. The commodification of human beings fueled the expansion of the capitalist economy, as the profits generated from the sale of enslaved labor allowed for further investment and growth. This expansion, in turn, created new opportunities for the accumulation of wealth and power for those at the top of the economic hierarchy. In this way, the commodification of human beings became a central driving force behind the development of the capitalist economy. It enabled the extraction of maximum profit from the labor of enslaved individuals, while also fueling the expansion and growth of the economic system as a whole. The legacy of this commodification continues to shape our world today, as we grapple with the ongoing repercussions of this dark chapter in human history.
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