How 15th-Century Portuguese Slavery Helped Shape Racial Labels
This historical discussion examines how Portuguese expansion and the transatlantic slave trade helped strengthen racial ideas in the 15th century. It focuses on Gomes Eanes de Zurara’s chronicle and the role of religious language in portraying enslaved West Africans as inferior. The post argues that medieval references to “light” and “darkness” often carried spiritual meanings linked to sin, baptism and Christianity. Over time, such ideas were increasingly attached to physical appearance and used to defend the enslavement of African people. While racial classification developed over centuries rather than through one text alone, the account highlights how religion, royal power and economic interests were used to legitimise inequality. It invites readers to consider how these old narratives continue to influence discussions of race today.
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