The business of buying a slave was treated with great seriousness. Their labor was used in back breaking tasks, often in the fields and on the sugar plantations, where their main task was to build the famous "levadas." This vast network of channels transported the much needed water to all parts of the island. The slaves were used to craft these channels out of the mountains, while hanging from baskets over steep cliffs, many lost their lives. By the year 1552, 3000 slaves could be found on the island of Madeira.
The early colonization of Madeira soon found itself populated not only with slaves, but with condemned criminals, undesirables, refugees and adventure seekers from mainland Portugal. Shortly thereafter settlers from Flanders, Genoa, Poland, France, England, Scotland and Germany arrived. This melting pot of settlers would turn this once dense forest island into a thriving Portuguese colony.
In the process of clearing the thick forest, legend has it that parts of the island were aflame for seven years. It was the ash that remained that created the ideal fertile soil conditions for the planting of crops.
Soon Madeira was on its way to full colonization. The natural bay of Funchal became a magnet for commerce. With new trade routes opening up, Funchal's harbor became the central stopping off point for fresh water and provisions. The advent of wine production further added to the popularity of Madeira.
Wealthy English families enjoyed the pleasant climate that Madeira had to offer. They owned summer homes and employed local villagers to maintain them. The English helped to develope the embroidery trade. This cottage industry created a means of financial support for many of the islanders, not to mention the wealth that it created for the English and German businessmen.
This accounting would not be complete without the mention of "white gold." The sugar industry played an important part in the development of trade for Madeira. Successful enterprise on the island had also been in the hands of others as well. The exportation of "white gold" was controlled by the Jews and Genoese who held partnership with Lisbon.
The villagers were faced with many BITTER~~SWEET times, especially those that were forced to denounce their Sephardic beliefs and practices. Some converted to Christianity, labeled as "New Christians: while continuing to practice their Jewish religion in secret. The Inquisition trials, found Mothers pitted against Daughters, Daughters against Fathers, Brothers against Sisters. Yet through all this hardship, came an awakening and the hope for a better life, be it on Madeira or elsehwere.
This brings us to the period where the majority of the islanders were peasants. The fields that they toiled on often did not belong to them. The lack of crop rotation rendered the soil non productive, and what little crop that did grow was destroyed by "disease." Times proved unbearable for many...