Discussing , debating : language tools

1. Discussing, debating: languagetools This presentationisbased on the followng online forum: http://www.enotes.com/history/discuss/how-did-slavery-affect-world-history-54613?start=10

2. How didslavery affect world history? As you may know / There is no denying that/ No one can deny the fact that, slavery was common throughout the world, especially / particularlyin ancient times. As a matter of fact / indeed / as it were, slaves were often the quintessential spoils of war with a myriad of utilities including, but not limited to: cheap-laborers, soldiers, and even teachers. Plantations are a case in point / Plantation agriculture in South America, for example / for instance, wouldn’t have been possible without cost-effective slave labor. Cultivating labor-intensive cash crops with your average wage workers would have run the farm out of business; labor was simply too expensive. As historians have convincingly demonstrated, slavery, therefore, permitted the world’s demand for such luxury products, such as tobacco or sugar, to be met by slave-driven supply. There is solid evidence too that in the Middle East, slaves were often used as soldiers. Arguably, this kind of use of slaves had significant backlash later on in the Middle East’s history when slave soldiers revolted and brought empires to its knees. The slave-soldier armies even formed their own “countries”– the Mamluksbeing a prime example. This particular group of slave-soldiers is noteworthy as historians later make them out as the “shield” that finally defeated the Mongol Horde, preventing them from spreading further into Africa. Some slaves even became teachers of people like Alexander the Great! Nonetheless, the influence that certain slaves – Aristotle in the above case – exercised had tremendous influence on World History.

3. That was a good answer , although slavery in the American South was not really very cost effective.  I disagree with you on that particular point / I do not share your point of view as, in fact, the cost of slavery created an economic strain that crippled industrial development in the South, and left most plantations on the verge of bankruptcy year after year.  Slaves were far more expensive than free laborers, there was simply not enough labor available without slavery to run the vast tobacco and cotton plantations. There were, as pointed out, many slaves who were important in history, some as teachers and tutors of the famous, and some as individuals who won their freedom through personal actions. But / yet / however, I believe / my contention is that the real problem of slavery throughout history has been the dehumanizing effect it has had on both slaves and masters. Slavery, as far as we know, was (supposedly / admittedly) invented in ancient Mesopotamia. 

4.  If you were to erase slavery from human history, many of those civilizations would not have existed, and as we know it our concept of world history would be completely different.  Who knows, maybe societies in the Pacific or Amazon would rise up and become the super powers of the world.  It is crazy / nonsense to imagine how history would be different without the use of slaves.  That goes to show you that slavery was and is a vital part, a horrible part, of human history.

5. One should not overlook / Don't forget the indentured servants who traveled from Europe to America with their travels fees covered by the person for who they agreed to work for a period of seven years once they reached the new land.  This is a form of slavery, even though it was agreed upon by both parties.  • I’m utterly convinced that slavery has had a profound effect on world history as well as personal histories. Let’s just cite / I'm thinking of the Harriet Tubmans and the Frederick Douglasses and countless others we wouldn't have in history had they not suffered through slavery first (or perhaps some other horrific event).  

6. What I always found interesting / fascinating / noteworthy as an historian was the 'perception' of slavery throughout human civilization. Slavery has existed as far back as the inception of writing. The ancient civilizations of Babylon, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome all accepted slavery as a part of their society. There is no doubt that slavery in the ancient world (indisputably / unquestionably) promoted economic stability, increased wealth among the slaveholders, and was revered as an integal part of the society. Slavery was not viewed in the same way as it was during the ancient world. While it is true that ancient slaves were 'owned' by families, and were beaten, punished, or worse. It wasn't until the American brand of slavery that the institution of slavery was viewed in a different light. It could be argued that up until the American experience most folks didn't think much of the institution, however a post Enlightenment mentality in the United States played a significant role in the moral aspects of the institution, even among slaveholders. • I believe that slavery (which unfortunately still exists in certain places) due to the American experience has had a 'global effect' upon most legitimate nations. I tend to consider that it is up to the free nations of the world to stand up and declare the injustice of the institution slavery, putting as much non-violent pressure on them as possible. (military action should always be a last resort) However, standing by and having no opinion can be considered just as bad. I only hope those that still experience bondage will one day be freed of the chains that bind them.

7. That's a very keen point you've touched there. Slavery used to be a way for people to "pay off their debt" in much of the ancient world. In fact, such was also the nature of African slaves (in the beginning). After working off their debt or work for capture, slaves were allowed to "free" themselves. However, with the trans-atlantic trade system and the changes in the slave system by Europeans, the very nature of slavery transformed into something more sinister and well, RACIAL. This guilt, as you have said, is manifested in post-Enlightenment mentality of the moral aspect of the institution.Furthermore / besides, this moral hazard became much more apparent because slavery was a practice that ruled against the Christianity (something about how all men are equal before God). But to justify their trade, the slave traders (Dutch as far as I remember / if I recall correctly) developed the idea of racism: that, black man is not human, but sub-human, and therefore NOT equal.I must, however, argue that your last argument is much too idealistic. I would conversely argue / contend that the fundamental reason why slave trade does not cease is because the human body is the last line of credit. One can "sell", in essence, his or her body when all else fails. And desperate moments call for desperate measures. Unless we can solve world hunger, poverty, disease, and the many like problems of inequality, there will always be slavery. 

8. Working on a dialogue A: I thinktherewillalwaysbeslavery. B: What a pessimisticview! Don’tyouthinkeconomicdevelopmentwilleventuallygetrid of slavery? A: Well, no. Economicdevelopmentfostersslavery as the wealth of the richderivesfrom the exploitation of the poor. Don’tyou know that? B: You tend to forgetthatexploitedworkers have alwaysresisted exploitation. What about slave revolts and medievalriotsagainst oppression? A: Slave revolts! Well, as you know, new systems of exploitation have been devisedevenafter slaves rebelled. B: Yes but thenserfdomwas not as harsh as slavery, wasit? A: Not as harsh! How canyoubelieveit ! Serfs wereawfullyexploited, weren’tthey? And feudalismwas no betterthanancientdictatorships, wasit? B: You maybe right here but masters becameincreasinglyafraid and wary of their staff. I stillbelievethateconomicdevelopmentenablesworkers to bebettereducated and more likely to resist exploitation and to fight for theirrights. A: You’re an idealist. Man isbound to exploit weakercreatures. He’sevil, he’sselfish. That’s in man’s nature and it has nothing to do witheconomics. B: How canyoubesopessimistic! I do trust human nature. Man is good and manyexamples in historysuggestthatwe are graduallyheadingtowardshappier, fairer times!