Ibrahim wrote: > This is a fairly significant issue, I think, as it would affect the economic > structure of the majority of Midsea societies, depending on which way they > are. Definitely. > What do you all think of this? How widespread is slavery in the Midsea? I > personally think it would be significant, given that the Midsea is at a > Bronze-Iron age level of development. I agree that slavery is probably widespread and significant. However, I don't think comparisons to the Bronze Age are approprite. The level of technology seems to be roughly that of 14th century Europe, 11th century Persia, or 9th century China. > The only factors that would significantly affect slavery would be: > > - population levels. An abundance of cheap labour would undermine the > importance of slavery, whereas a society lacking in labour would utilise > slavery to fill the void. This would be the demand factor. Population levels have little to do with it. What matters is social stability and warfare. Expanding societies and those engaged in warfare can acquire slaves cheaply. In stable societies slaves don't reproduce as well and become outnumbered by the free poor. In expanding Rome, slaves were a major economic factor. In stable China, that factor was minor. Using this standard, Kaeir would have a large slave population, Mir would have a tiny one, and the Free Cities would fall somewhere into the middle ground. > - religion. Certainly in any society where the dominant religion is > anti-slavery, then it probably wouldn't exist. However, that would pit a > religion like the cult of Demerhaze against any agricultural "elite", who > might benefit from slavery. From what I see, there aren't any dominant religions that are anti-slavery. In areas where Demerhaze is dominant she isn't anti-slavery. In areas where she's anti-slavery she isn't dominant. (Exquaestio doesn't have a stance on slavery at this point.) > - supply. Where do the slaves come from? I'd imagine from the less > developed societies on the edge of "civilisation" in the Midsea, probably > brought to slave markets to be sold, by a middle man. So for example, > perhaps Kaeirean slaves are purchased from Aixelsydanese slave-traders who > obtain their slaves from the wilder lands to the east of Aixelsydan or Mir. I can see that. However, such a supply will not come near to meeting the demand. European hunger for slaves (post-16th century) more than decimated Africa, even though those slaves were going to areas tiny in comparison with Africa as a whole. > - magic. & technology > Have any magic-using societies been able to develop magical > alternatives or labour-reducing enhancements? As far as magic goes only Mir seems to have the ability, and their population is such that they don't need them. I've never been sure about the presence of devices like water wheels. My assumption has been that they're present, but not particularly prevalent or efficient (Roman model). > - conditions of slavery. What are the conditions under which slavery > operates in a particular society? Are there rights or responsibilities on > the part of the owner or the slave? Is there a possibility for emancipation > (by the owner, or by the slave purchasing his freedom)? Or is it the more > brutal variety (like that of Atlantic slavery)? As profits from slave labor become more difficult to acquire, conditions of slavery tend to steadily decline. In the late Roman period, for example, farm slaves became so expensive that they only way their owners could profit was by feeding them so little that they were unable to reproduce. The Roman "solution" to this problem was the establishment of serfdom. Also: - ease of escape. Slavery works best when slaves are separated from their homelands and require some effort to get back. Slavery in borderlands tends to be minor because slaves can escape across the border to their own people. Jefferson (Exquaestio) http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/Exq_Main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
