Writing the History of Global Slavery

This Element emphasizes the need to replace existing models of global slavery that are based on American slavery with a more global perspective. It suggests that connecting slavery to empires can help to historicize the study of history and make the voices of the enslaved more central to our understanding of global slavery. It also calls for using a wide range of sources about the lives, experiences, and thoughts of the enslaved to better conceptualize and describe the varied forms of global slavery throughout history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Global slavery, as currently understood and modeled after antebellum American slavery, is a limited perspective that fails to capture the diverse and complex nature of this historical phenomenon. It suggests that we should replace these models with a more global perspective that recognizes the interconnectedness of slavery across different regions and cultures. By examining the relationship between slavery and empires, we can gain a deeper understanding of the global history of slavery. This approach historicizes the study of history as an institution that evolves over time and space, allowing us to appreciate the changing perspectives and experiences of enslaved individuals throughout different periods.

Furthermore, by drawing on the expertise of scholars studying modern slavery, we can leverage the vast array of sources available about the lives, experiences, and thoughts of the enslaved. These sources, spanning from ancient to modern times, provide valuable insights into the diverse forms of global slavery and help us to center the voices of the enslaved in our conceptualization and description of this historical phenomenon.

This title, "Reimagining Global Slavery: Connecting History and Empires," is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core, ensuring that this important research is accessible to a wider audience. By adopting a more global and inclusive perspective on slavery, we can better understand its historical roots and its ongoing impact on societies around the world.

ISBN-13: 9781009467957