ABSTRACT
Although superficially the simplest form of slavery to define, chattel slavery evolved very differently in different parts of the world. Punishment for disobedience can be harsh and is not governed by any systematic code. This is chattel slavery and a chattel is at the disposal of the whim of its owner; though arbitrariness may be tempered by fashion. Mauritania has been considered as an examples of chattel slavery because slavery has been, and still is, an integral element in the socioeconomic fabric of the state and because evidence is readily available. Africa and the Middle East are the areas in which chattel slavery has persisted into the twentieth century. Similarly the case of the Aché Indians, whilst relevant as an example of the persecution of tribal minorities, can also be used to show the existence of chattel slavery in a South American context.
