The 17th century was a period in human history when geographical discoveries, the expansion of trade routes, and the formation of colonial orders fundamentally changed human thinking.

One of the most painful points of those changes was the large-scale development of slavery, which had profound consequences not only economically, but also socially and culturally. Slavery, though existing since ancient times, has become international in this century. People were captured, forcibly displaced and sold or exploited.

Thousands of people were deprived of their freedom, family and identity, subjected to inhumane conditions and hard labor. Slavery also became one of the pillars of the economic system of that period.

In the 17th century, the Armenian historian Leo wrote in detail about the enslavement of people, exploitation of slaves and slave markets, who gives a general overview of the situation in that period, especially in our region. He describes where, in particular, the captives were sold and where they were captured.

“The source of slavery was the slave trade, which took place in specially famous markets. Derbend slave market was very famous in the borders of the Caucasus. There were gathered the captives who were brought from Dagestan and other countries, even from Russia, by the hands of rapacious mountaineers.

Here, in this market, which gained international importance, merchants met each other from all sides, and especially from Persia, which especially needed slaves from the Caucasian countries. Deprived of freedom and reduced to the status of animals, people were not as important for economic affairs, working hands, as they were needed for sexual, procreative purposes.” (Leo, “Collection of Countries”, Volume 3, Yerevan, 1969, p. 70).

Jean Chardin, a well-known French traveler of the period, also wrote in detail about the enslavement of people in that period, who passed through the Black Sea while traveling and tells in detail how people were sold for what price, who bought them and for what purpose. Leo recounts Chardin’s story in detail.

“Chardin traveled on the Black Sea in a ship that collected slaves from the shores. The buyers were Turkish and Christian merchants. They bought and instead gave various products, valuing them much higher than their true value. Here are the values ​​of the human product reported by the French traveler. A man aged 25-40 was bought for 15 AMD. above that height – 8-10 ECU.

Beautiful girls aged 13-18 were valued the most, for which a price of 20 ecus was given. Women cost 12 and children 3-4 ecus. “A Greek merchant, who was in the room next to mine, bought a woman, her nipples with a child, giving 12 ecus…

The woman would be 25 years old, with a face as white as snow, with charming features. I have never seen a more beautiful breast, a more tender neck. It surprised me that the plight of these unfortunate creatures did not have a killing effect on them. It even seemed to me that they did not feel their situation. As soon as they bought them and they escaped, they immediately took off the shawls covering them, put on new linen, new clothes and forced them to work.

Men and boys were put to work on the ship, and women and girls were ordered to sew. It seemed that they had enough of both the clothes and the food they received, but the work was hard for them, so they were often forced to work with sticks.” (Ibid., p. 71).

The above passage states that the basis of enslaving, selling, and exploiting people was the bad social conditions and period. In the 17th century, slavery was not only the result of economic interests, but also a gross violation of human dignity. Man had turned into a commodity whose value was measured by age, appearance and physical abilities.

Such phenomena left a deep mark not only in the destinies of individuals, but also in the history of different peoples. As a result, social inequality, violence and moral crisis were formed.

These historical facts about slavery compel us to realize what freedom is and always fight for it. And in modern times, the struggle for one’s identity and freedom is only with weapons and the preservation of national identity.

Z. Sh:i was late

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