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Slaves had many excellent skills and talents which made plantations economically self-sufficient. The skills of slave blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, weavers and other artisans were all used to keep plantations running smoothly and efficiently. This also added little expense to the owners. These same abilities were used to improve conditions on the plantation so that slaves developed not only a spirit of self-reliance but experienced a measure of autonomy. These skills, when added to other talents for cooking, quilting, medicine, music, song, dance, and storytelling instilled in slaves the sense that as a group, they were not only competent but gifted.
Slaves used their talents to change some of the daily assaults of bondage. They saw themselves as strong, valuable people who were unjustly held against their will rather than as the perpetually dependent children or immoral scoundrels described by so many of their owners. Indeed, they found through their artistry some moments of happiness, particularly by telling tales which portrayed work in humorous terms or when singing satirical songs which mocked their owners.
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ViviEnslaved Africans brought various skills from Africa, including agricultural knowledge, craftsmanship in metalworking and pottery, weaving, herbal medicine, and spiritual practices such as drumming and dancing. These skills were essential for their survival and played a significant role in shaping and enriching the culture of African American communities in the Americas.
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Why did European colonists bring enslaved Africans to their plantations in the Americas?
European colonists brought enslaved Africans to their plantations in the Americas to provide cheap labor for cultivating crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton. The transatlantic slave trade became a lucrative enterprise that helped fuel the economic prosperity of European colonies. Enslaved Africans were forcibly brought to the Americas to meet the labor demands of the expanding plantation economy.
What was some skills Africans brought with to the colonies?
Africans brought skills such as farming techniques, craftsmanship (including metalworking and woodworking), and knowledge of herbal medicine to the colonies. They also had experience in hunting, animal husbandry, and basket weaving, among other skills.
What culture did the Africans bring?
Enslaved Africans brought their cultural traditions, music, dance, cuisine, spiritual beliefs, and languages to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade. These cultural elements heavily influenced the development of various aspects of American culture in countries like the United States, Brazil, and the Caribbean.
Why did las casas want colonists to bring africans to labor as slaves in Spain?
He proposed to replace the slave labor of the natives with the importation of slaves from Africa, to keep the natives free. He eventually recanted this stance as well, and became an advocate for the Africans in the colonies.Las Casa wanted the colonists to bring Africans to labor as slaves in New Spain because they would provide cheap labor.
Why did the Portuguese bring africans to the colony of Brazil?
Since they needed workforce and the natives were uncooperative, the portuguese used their vast number of colonies in Africa to "import" workers for the brazillian fields, since they were not familiar with the terrain and the climate and were nopt prone to escaping as easily as the natives.
