Slavery

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Slavery is the practice of owning of sapient beings as property. On Earth this practice was largely abolished in the 19th century. Slaves have historically been employed for many purposes, including as soldiers (such as the Ottoman Janissaries), but slaves have mostly been used as domestic servants and basic laborers. Fine details about Slavery have varied from culture to culture, for example Slavery in European Colonies the 16th to mid 19th century was characterized by a Racial belief that black people were fit to be enslaved, a pre-conception which did not exist in (among other states) the Roman Empire.

The term is used informally to refer to other situations in which people are forced to work very hard under heavy control by higher-ranking figures in conditions that are comparable to slavery (such as serfdom in Tsarist Russia before 1861 or victims of human trafficing).

Slavery in science fiction

  • In Star Wars, slavery existed in several backwater regions of the Galaxy, such as Tatooine. Slavery was also practiced by the Galactic Empire, most notably in the enslavement of Wookiees as well as other non human species.
  • In Stargate the Goa'uld kept vast populations of Humans in slavery or serfdom. The Wraith also kept human beings as slaves, serving as personnal attendants.
  • In Star Trek, a few factions practice slavery, most notably the Orion Pirates.
  • In Mass Effect, the Batarians keep slaves and consider Citadel Council efforts to ban slavery an attack on their culture.

See also