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First African Slaves Arrive in the Americas (1501)
In 1501, King Ferdinand II of Spain authorized Governor Ovando to receive African slaves shipped from Spain on Hispaniola, to make up for the labor s…
Timeline
- 1501Spain · SpainAt Ovando's request, Ferdinand II issued an edict permitting the transport of African slaves to Hispaniola; some sources state that Ovando initially held reservations about introducing slaves, fearing they would be excessively exploited alongside the Taíno.
- 1501–1502Santo Domingo · Santo DomingoThe first royal-authorized African slaves were shipped from Spanish ports, crossed the Atlantic to Hispaniola, and were assigned to work on colonial plantations and in mines; this set the precedent for officially sanctioned African slave imports in the American colonies.
Sources
- Atlantic slave trade https://www.britannica.com/topic/transatlantic-slave-trade
- Hispaniola https://www.britannica.com/place/Hispaniola