Single Idea 5285

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 1. Slavery]

Full Idea

Slavery cannot be abolished without the steam-engine.

Gist of Idea

Slavery cannot be abolished without the steam-engine

Source

K Marx / F Engels (The German Ideology [1846], §1.B)

Book Reference

Marx,K./Engels,F.: 'The German Ideology', ed/tr. Arthur,C.J. [Lawrence and Wishart 1985], p.61


A Reaction

In Britain and its colonies it does appear that the rise of factories and the abolition of slavery coincided. It is hard to see why this should be a necessity, though. Did the early Christians keep slaves? Some ancient Greeks objected to slavery.