The Age Of Exploration And Conquest

The age of Exploration and Conquest was a time of change. Discoveries and conquests during this period had major effects on the ways of life and caused many changes for many people. One of the things that changed during this time was the idea of slavery. There are many things that caused a change in concept of enslavement. Factors most important in shaping European views of the relationship between race and freedom were the expansion of the Ottoman empire, racial superiority/inferiority, and slavery.

With the Ottoman Empire taking over Constantinople it blocked access to normal mediterranean slaves for the other Europeans. Europeans turned to sub-saharan Africa for their slaves instead. This replacement was a big factor in the association