--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In fact, all known societies above the…" description: "\"“In fact, all known societies above the very primitive level have been slave societies—even many of the Northwest American Indian tribes had slaves lon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/rodney-stark-7977_slavery_in-fact-all-known-societies-above-the-ve_961543.jpg" --- # In fact, all known societies above the very primitive… ![“In fact, all known societies above the very primitive level have been slave societies—even many of the Northwest American Indian tribes had slaves long before Columbus’s voyage.46 Amid this universal slavery, only one civilization ever rejected human bondage: Christendom. And it did it twice!” quote by Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/rodney-stark-7977_slavery_in-fact-all-known-societies-above-the-ve_961543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/rodney-stark-7977_slavery_in-fact-all-known-societies-above-the-ve_961543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/rodney-stark-7977_slavery_in-fact-all-known-societies-above-the-ve_961543.jpg) > ““In fact, all known societies above the very primitive level have been slave societies—even many of the Northwest American Indian tribes had slaves long before Columbus’s voyage.46 Amid this universal slavery, only one civilization ever rejected human bondage: Christendom. And it did it twice!”” [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historically, slavery was universal except for Christendom, which rejected it twice, highlighting a unique moral stance. **In simple terms:** Christendom uniquely opposed slavery. Key Takeaway Recognize moral breakthroughs in history. Themes history ethics slavery religion civilization Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type historical theological When to use this quote - educational curricula - public discourse - interfaith dialogue - policy advocacy Key Concepts human bondage moral evolution cultural shifts religious influence Questions to Reflect On - Why did Christendom reject slavery? - What lessons does this offer modern ethics? A Different Perspective Historical narratives can oversimplify complex societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Slave Societies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-societies-1782800/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slavery Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-civilization-1782799/) [Tribes Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribes-slaves-1782802/) [Universal Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-slavery-1782801/) ## Related quotes > [Without the institution of slavery, civilization would never have been achieved, for no one could ever have done anything intellectual if he had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/without-the-institution-of-slavery-civilization-would-never-have-been/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [“Expansion is a necessity of slave societies; the slave power requires ever fresh conquests.17 “It is more profitable,” wrote Merivale, “to cultivate a fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/expansion-is-a-necessity-of-slave-societies-the-slave-power-requires/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [In America, you don't even have proper holidays. It's really one of the most prosperous slave societies in history. People work their asses off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/in-america-you-don-t-even-have-proper-holidays-it-s-really-one-of-the/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Being a slave is to have nothing but still having something left to lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalita-tedemy/being-a-slave-is-to-have-nothing-but-still-having-something-left-to/) [Lalita Tedemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalita-tedemy/) > [“Work is a vehicle with which man chases some fleeting destination called a full tummy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/work-is-a-vehicle-with-which-man-chases-some-fleeting-destination/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! 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I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Can you look forward to the future of our country and imagine any state of things in which, with slavery still existing, we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dale-owen/can-you-look-forward-to-the-future-of-our-country-and-imagine-any/) [Robert Dale Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dale-owen/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) ## More by Rodney Stark > [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“Keep in mind that democracy merely gives power to the people; it does not ensure that power will be used wisely or humanely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/keep-in-mind-that-democracy-merely-gives-power-to-the-people-it-does/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“Laws requiring a certain frequency of church attendance, the taking of Communion, and baptism of infants soon appeared all across the Lutheran areas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/laws-requiring-a-certain-frequency-of-church-attendance-the-taking-of/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“But Christendom was not merely a community of warriors or even a community of the nobility. It was a civilization! Unfortunately, for generations everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/but-christendom-was-not-merely-a-community-of-warriors-or-even-a/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“No doubt Western modernity has its limitations and discontents. Still, it is far better than the known alternatives—not only, or even primarily, because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/no-doubt-western-modernity-has-its-limitations-and-discontents-still/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [... All questions concerning the rise of Christianity are one: How was it done? How did a tiny and obscure messianic movement from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/all-questions-concerning-the-rise-of-christianity-are-one-how-was-it/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“By the seventh century, Christianity probably was far stronger and more sophisticated in North Africa and Asia than in Europe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/by-the-seventh-century-christianity-probably-was-far-stronger-and/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [There was only one decline in church attendance, and that was in the late 1960s when the Vatican said it was not a sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/there-was-only-one-decline-in-church-attendance-and-that-was-in-the/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“But following these Stone Age discoveries, progress was slow. It is estimated that in terms of the standard of living, things were pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/but-following-these-stone-age-discoveries-progress-was-slow-it-is/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [Mormons are an extraordinarily educated and professional population. They have all these virtues: They work hard, don't skip school, have no scandals. Consequently, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/mormons-are-an-extraordinarily-educated-and-professional-population/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [Because God is perfect, his handiwork functions in accord with immutable principles. By the full use of our God-given powers of reason and observation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/because-god-is-perfect-his-handiwork-functions-in-accord-with/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [Many people who say they have no religion are simply saying they have no official religious affiliation. They may actually have strong personal beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/many-people-who-say-they-have-no-religion-are-simply-saying-they-have/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“there is at least as much, and probably much more, variation on these matters among the Protestants of various types included in these merged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/there-is-at-least-as-much-and-probably-much-more-variation-on-these/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“What shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews?’ Luther offered seven actions. First, to set fire to their synagogues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/what-shall-we-christians-do-with-this-rejected-and-condemned-people/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [Leading Christian theologians such as Augustine and Aquinas were not what today might be called 'strict constructionists.' Rather, they celebrated reason as the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/leading-christian-theologians-such-as-augustine-and-aquinas-were-not/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) [Explore all 85 Rodney Stark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) ## More Slavery quotes > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Can you look forward to the future of our country and imagine any state of things in which, with slavery still existing, we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dale-owen/can-you-look-forward-to-the-future-of-our-country-and-imagine-any/) [Robert Dale Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dale-owen/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Slavery, if it can be legalized at all, can be legalized only by positive legislation. Natural law gives it no aid. Custom imparts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/slavery-if-it-can-be-legalized-at-all-can-be-legalized-only-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Work is a vehicle with which man chases some fleeting destination called a full tummy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/work-is-a-vehicle-with-which-man-chases-some-fleeting-destination/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Being a slave is to have nothing but still having something left to lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalita-tedemy/being-a-slave-is-to-have-nothing-but-still-having-something-left-to/) [Lalita Tedemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalita-tedemy/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. 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