This video segment addresses the presence of Black people in medieval Europe, confirming their existence and discussing population distribution. It highlights that their presence varied depending on the time period and specific location within Europe. Larger populations were noted in Spain and Portugal. The segment also provides a specific example from Florence in the early 15th century, referencing orphanage records that document a Black slave who surrendered his baby to an orphanage. This action is contextualized by the societal norm in Florence at the time, where a father's social standing significantly influenced a child's status.

The Creative Contessa

So that question about, you know, were there black people in Europe? Yes. Depending on when and where you were in medieval Europe, there were black people. Were there large populations? Depended on where you were.

There were larger populations of them in Spain for certain and in Portugal. They also crop up in orphanage records. So I actually found from in Florence from the early 15th century a record of a black slave and he actually takes his baby, turns it in at the orphanage because in that era in in Florence, the rank of your father determined your station.

HISTORY'S LIES: THE TRUTH ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE

So that question about, you know, were
there black people in Europe? Yes.
Depending on when and where you were in
medieval Europe, there were black
people. Were there large populations?
Depended on where you were. There were
larger populations of them in Spain for
certain and in Portugal.
They also crop up in orphanage records.
So I actually found from in Florence
from the early 15th century a record of
a black slave and he actually takes his
baby, turns it in at the orphanage
because in that era in in Florence, the
rank of your father
determined your station.

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HISTORY'S LIES: THE TRUTH ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE

Transcription