In contrast to the slaves present in Spain, who were more dedicated to domestic and artisanal tasks, the need arose in America to turn them into a tool for the colonisation of new territories. Despite the prohibitions against black populations in the times of Cisneros and Charles V, the need for labour and large numbers of slaves made them the mainstay of the occupation of the Indies during the 16th century. From 1511, the massive importation of blacks began to expand, and it was even said that they would acclimatise quickly to the new territories because of their physical characteristics.
Through the capitulations, an attempt was made to develop new territories for the benefit of the Crown, and many private individuals offered black slaves to carry out tasks such as discovering, populating and pacifying these new territories with tasks known as domestic-scuderil. Their role was to work alongside a lord to help him with the difficulties that arose in establishing new settlements.

Collection: Statistics

Project: 7. Persecuted by justice and powers: rebels, political dissidents and criminals in the history of Europe., 9. Travels and travelers: economic, social and cultural connections.

Chronology: XVI

Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University, Postgraduate

Link: https://revistas.usal.es/index.php/Studia_Historica/article/view/4586

Resource type: Statistics

Format: Table

Source: Cortés, J. L. (1989). "El esclavo negro, colonizador de América, a través de las capitulaciones de Indias del siglo XVI", en Studia historica. Historia moderna, nº 7, p. 832.

Language: Spanish

Date: 1989

Owner: Roberto José Alcalde López (Modernalia)

Copyright: ©Studia historica. Historia moderna ©

Abstract: The table lists the black slaves in terms of their role in colonisation work in America (1520-1596)

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