The “Sugar Revolution”, the West Indies and Slavery in the 17th Century

Authors:

Pages: 347-358
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/CTZG2382

Abstract:

The article deals with the problem of “sugar revolution” in the West Indies in the 17th century where the Spanish domination was replaced by that of the rising Atlantic powers – England, France and the Dutch Republic. The West Indian sugar industry was introduced by the Dutch who gathered experience during their short presence in Brazil. There was a direct connection between sugar and slavery in the Caribbean where soon the slaves replaced the local people and the European indentured workers as major labour force. The result was transformation of the so-called “societies with slaves” to the “slave societies” where the master-slave relationship dominated the social, political and economic life of the islands.

Keywords:

slave trade; West Indies; sugar revolution; plantation revolution; plantocracy; society with slaves; slave society

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