[redgolum]

In fact it can be argued that American slavery in the South became what it became (treating Black Africans as non-humans and chattel) because the enlightenment weakened the Christian bonds of morality.

I can agree with you up to a point, but slavery existed in Europe for centuries before the enlightenment, though not on the scale of the American south. Slavery was seen as a necessary evil, and as something ordained by God in some cases.

It can be argued that the treatment of slaves and servants was better before the enlightenment, but at that point I will have to plead ignorance and do some more research.

[Destro]

European slaves - while slaves - were not considered fully human - with rights and limits placed on slave holders even in pre-Christian times but more so after. You have many cases of slaves gaining freedom and being equal citizens in their society. This was not the case in the South.

[Destro]

The enlightenment made things worse before it made them better. Enlightenment allowed for progress but it also created concepts like Social Darwinisim.