Slavery in Madeira

Evidence of slavery predates written records. It has clearly found its way into the history of many countries, and Portugal was no exception. The first slave market created in Portugal for the sale of imported African slaves – the Mercado de Escravos, opened in 1444. The very first slaves by the Portuguese were captured from the north of present-day Mauritania. By 1448, hundreds of black Africans were being shipped to Madeira.

Their labor was used in back breaking tasks such as the construction of the famous "levadas." This vast network of channels transported the much needed water to all parts of the island. The slaves were used to craft these channels out of the mountains, while hanging from baskets over steep cliffs, many lost their lives. By the year 1552, three thousand slaves could be found on the island of Madeira.

It should also be noted that without the slave trade, Madeira would not have developed into a profitable Portuguese colony.

During the ‘White Gold Era’ sugarcane production became a leading factor in the island's economy, and increased the demand for labour. This is where the slaves stepped in, working from dawn to dusk on fields and sugar plantations. One happy consequence of the decline of the sugar industry was the disappearance of slavery from the agricultural work force. By 1775, slavery had come to an end when it was finally abolished.