The Atlantic Slave Trade: Volume II Seventeenth Century

This collection examines the development of the Atlantic slave trade in the 17th century, exploring African societies' reactions, economic origins, and plantation growth.

Format: Hardback
Length: 566 pages
Publication date: 07 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Originally published as a collection in 2006, this comprehensive volume delves into the intricate development of the Atlantic slave trade during the seventeenth century. It explores a range of critical issues, including the diverse responses of African societies to this global trade, the economic foundations of black slavery in the British West Indies, and the expansion of plantations in response to shifting European dietary preferences, particularly the rise of the sugar economy. Additionally, the volume includes an insightful introduction by the editor, highlighting the unique contributions made by each essay.

The Atlantic slave trade emerged as a significant economic and social phenomenon during the seventeenth century. It involved the transportation of African people across the Atlantic Ocean to work on plantations in the Americas. The trade was driven by a variety of factors, including the demand for labor in the New World, the profitability of slave labor, and the belief that Africans were inferior to Europeans.

One of the most significant impacts of the Atlantic slave trade was the devastating impact it had on African societies. Thousands of African people were captured and sold into slavery, often against their will. They were taken from their homes and communities and transported to distant lands, where they were forced to work under harsh conditions and without any rights or protections.

The slave trade also had a profound economic impact on the New World. It provided a cheap source of labor for the growing plantation economy, which was based on the cultivation of sugar, cotton, and other crops. Slaves were able to work long hours and produce a high volume of labor, which allowed plantation owners to increase their profits and expand their operations.

However, the slave trade was also criticized for its cruelty and exploitation. Slaves were subjected to brutal treatment, including beatings, torture, and forced labor. They were often worked to death, and their families were separated and sold into slavery as well.

Despite these criticisms, the Atlantic slave trade continued to thrive for many years. It was only in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries that efforts were made to abolish it. The abolitionist movement, led by figures such as William Wilberforce and John Newton, worked to raise awareness about the horrors of slavery and to pressure governments to end the trade.

In 1807, the United States passed the Slave Trade Act, which banned the importation of slaves into the country. This was a significant milestone in the abolitionist movement, and it paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States in 1865.

Today, the legacy of the Atlantic slave trade is a complex and multifaceted issue. It has had a profound impact on African societies, the New World, and the global community as a whole. While it is important to acknowledge the horrors of slavery and to work towards reconciliation and healing, it is also important to recognize the contributions that African people have made to society and to celebrate their diversity and resilience.

In conclusion, the Atlantic slave trade was a devastating and controversial phenomenon that had a profound impact on African societies, the New World, and the global community. While it is important to acknowledge the horrors of slavery and to work towards reconciliation and healing, it is also important to recognize the contributions that African people have made to society and to celebrate their diversity and resilience.

ISBN-13: 9781032423616