The word slave has always had an ethnic group attached to it. In the 13th and 14th centuries, a slave in Europe was someone of Slavic decent. In the beginning of the 15th century, a few African slaves began to matriculate into Europe. There are three important things to remember about black African slaves:
1. African slaves were a signs of wealth. (along with women)
2. There were a lack of African slave revolts because of the small numbers and wide dispersion of slaves, also they had a relatively benign pattern of slavery.
3. African rulers cared more about economic goals than about their people. Some even conformed to European culture.
As Africa suffered from the loss of people, the Renaissance flourished in Northern Europe.
Each European region took their Renaissance thoughts in different directions and applied them to different things.The cultural traditions of northern Europe tended to remain more Christian. As a result, people began to combine classical and Christian ideas to reform society. Thomas More expressed his ideas in Utopia. More believed that problems in society did not come from people, but rather social institutions. Erasmus believed a better educated society would lead to reform.
The politics during the Renaissance had shifted after the Hundred Years War. In the 15th century, rulers used Renaissance political ideas to rebuild their governments.
In France, the monarchy was restored. With King Charles VII on the throne, France made an actual army. Previously, they hired people to fight for them.
In England, society suffered from political turmoil. First, there was the War of Roses. On top of that, they had a crazy guy on the throne (Henry IV). The country relied on groups such as the royal council and the justices of peace.
Spain still had independent kingdoms with different cultures. It was believed that the marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand would bring the people together. It didn’t work. Reconquistas wanted Spain to be a united, Catholic kingdom, so they tried to get rid of anyone who wasn’t Catholics, for example, Muslims and Jews.
It is evident that the Renaissance had very different effects on people from different cultures and ethnicities.
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