chapter 2-middle passage

Which American country had the greatest number of slaves from Africa?

Brazil

For what purpose were slaves used by the Portuguese?

Domestic servants

What precautions did Europeans take to reduce the risk of rebellions at the slave factories in Africa?

Europeans beat the slaves and divided them by ethnicity and/or family

How the Europeans' beliefs regarding health and medicine differ from the beliefs of a ship's human cargo?

African remedies were more likely than European medications to alleviate slave illness; Africa healers maintained that body, mind, and spirit were interconnected elements of the totality of a person's well-being (holistic nature)

Which country became the dominant slave trading country during the early 17th century?

Holland

Describe the typical process for selling slaves?

Landing and selling- allowed slaves to shave, wash with fresh water, and exercise right before selling; captains would dye their hair, put oil on their bodies to conceal bruises, and plug the anuses of those suffering from dysentery; there were physical examinations Scramble- captain established standard prices for slaves and herded them together

Of the several European countries that engaged in exploration and colonization, which country took the lead in the 1400s?

Portugal

What incident is responsible for an increase in demand of slaves after the 1500s?

colonization and the cultivation of sugar, tobacco, rice, and indigo

How did an African become a slave?

due to warfare that accompanied the formation of states in that region; also became available as a result of the conflict between the expanding kingdom of Kongo and its neighbors; African armies would enslave the inhabitants of conquered towns and villages or raiding parties captured isolated families or kidnapped individuals

define and describe "seasoning"

followed the sale; divided into 3 groups-creoles, old Africans, and New Africans; it was an apprenticeship in the work routines on the sugar plantations on the island and was a means of preparing slaves for resale to North American planters; it was a disciplinary process intended to modify the behavior and attitude of slaves and make them effect laborers.

What were the characteristics of a slave ship's doctor?

had very little knowledge about hygiene and how it related to disease and death because a germ theory had not been created yet; many were frauds; collected herbs as medication

How does Olaudah Equiano describe the middle passage?

hell; witnessed torture, sickness, and much more; significant because of testimony about the Atlantic slave trade and his service in the antislavery cause

What was the effect of slave trading on worldwide trading systems?

helped create 2 triangle trade systems- 1st: traders carried English goods to West Africa and exchanged them for slaves; then the traders carried the slaves to West Indies and exchanged them for sugar, which they took back to England 2nd: White American's from Britain's new England colonies carried rum to West Africa to trade for slaves, which they took to the West Indies in exchange for sugar or molasses, which they took home to create rum.

In what ways was American slavery different from Islamic or other forms of slavery?

it was harsher; based on race, most enslaved were male who were employed as agricultural laborers rather than soldiers or domestic servants; became known as "chattel" or personal property

Which on board diseases took the most lives?

malaria, yellow fever, measles, small pox, hookworm, scurry, and dysentery

What were some of the differences in the experiences of male and female slaves on board the ships?

men were worked twice as hard as women and women were sexually abused by sailors; women were worth 1/2 as much as men in the Caribbean market

How important were creoles? Why?

slaves born in the Americas; worth 3 times the value of unseasoned New Africans

Explain the division of work performed by slaves in the West Indies?

split in gangs 1st- "great gang"; strongest men; heavy field work of planting and harvesting 2nd- included women and older men; lighter field work like weeding 3rd- included children; worked shorter hours and did such tasks as bringing food and water to field gangs Others became domestic servants New Africans served apprenticeships with old Africans or creoles

What condition or circumstances determined whether or not a slave had been "seasoned"?

survival, adaption to new foods and climate and learning a new language

Why did the British want to take over the slave trade in the late 17th century?

they realized how much money they could make and how profitable it was- profits helped fund the industrial revolution

What were some of the common forms of rebellion at sea?

took place while a ship prepared to set sail when the African coast was in sight and slaves could possibly return home, but some revolts took place on the open ocean; some revolted by starving themselves, threatening suicide or jumping overboard

By which method did early Europeans obtain slaves?

trading with AFrican tribes and Kings

Describe the conditions or a typical slave ship

usually small and narrow (2 slaves per ton); most captains were "tight packers," who would squeeze humans together in hope that large numbers would offset increased deaths; slaves were put on shelves that were 5 1/2 feet long and 1 1/3 feet wide; had about 20-25 in of head room and male slaves were chained together to prevent rebellion and lodged males away from women and children