Bosquejo sobre la esclavitud en Almería, entre el Mediterráneo medieval y el Atlántico moderno

Abstract

Sixteenth-century slavery in Almería is a subject seldom studied. For decades the only reference were the works by Nicolás Cabrillana. The present book chapter is the first study devoted to the matter in decades. Taking into account notarial deeds from Almería, Málaga, Granada and Baza as well as royal sources from the Archivo General de Simancas and the Kingdom of Valencia, for the first time we offer an overview on the phenomenon from 1489 to 1522, the first three decades after the Christian conquest. Market dynamics from the Medieval Mediterranean to Modern Atlantic are outlined, followed by a profile of merchants and owners involved, finishing with the paths that led to freedom.