[orwin]

>> Slavery was not very productive

Once we created mechanical slaves, it was not. But until then, it was.

Slavery was abandoned because productivity rose, not the opposite. Productivity is tied with energy consumption. That's why we won't ever be able to limit our greenhouse gaz production.

[CryptoPunk]

Europe itself didn't have slavery, and was by global standards, quite productive before it ever acquired colonies and slaves.

But I agree that it could have been rising productivity that led to the abolition of slavery, and not the other way around.