The Slave Trade from a Slave's Perspective

Equiano, Olaudah.  "The Slave Trade." Readings in World Civilizations: The Development of the Modern World. Kevin Reilly. New York City: St Martin's Press, 1995.  pages 44-52.

     The consequences of the European arrival in the Americas were devastating for the human inhabitants of three continents: North America, South America, and Africa.  The inhabitants of the Americas were decimated by diseases, especially smallpox, form which they had no immunities.  The inhabitants of Africa, especially western africa, were decimated by the European slave trade.

     This selection is part of the autobiography of one of the Africans who was enslaved, Olaudah Equiano. He was born in 1745 in what is today Nigeria.  Sold to British slavers at the age of eleven, and shipped off to the British West Indies.  In 1766 he was able to buy his freedom and become involved in the antislavery movement in England.  What was slavery in Africa like and how was it different from slavery in the Americas  For those, like Equiano, who survived, what were the worst aspects of the Atlantic slave trade?  What do you think Equiano's criticism of "nominal Christians"?

To read a primary source about slavery from a slaves perspective click here!!!