Review of Material
Games and Rothman continue to look into the intricate dynamics of migrations in the
Atlantic World. During this time, millions of people traveled across the Atlantic Ocean, either
willingly in search of better prospects or forced to relocate as slaves or indentured servants.
These chapters focus on migration and the various factors, such as poverty, pursuing religious
goals, or escaping conflict. But a large percentage of those who migrated were slaves, forced
against their choice to cross the Atlantic. The varied conditions and experiences of those who
made these voyages are illuminated in this chapter.
Games and Rothman examine the economic foundations of European discovery and
exploitation in the Atlantic World. European explorers discovered plenty of treasure in the
Atlantic, even though they could not find the fabled El Dorado1. The famed city of gold brought
treasure hunters to the new world to seek their fortunes. The authors say that triangular trade is
an oversimplified idea, emphasizing instead the intricacy of economic structures and the resource
manipulation committed by financiers and European powers2. Triangular trade makes it appear
as if it was done because of convenience, not because of the money driving the slave trade. The
exploitation of peoples and resources in the Atlantic region was further highlighted by the advent
of imperialism, which was fueled by economic expansion3. The chapter illustrates the significant
economic influence of Atlantic commerce by focusing on the crucial roles that slavery and sugar
played in altering places like Barbados.
The author, Thomas Benjamin, explores the complex relationships between Europeans
and Native Americans, emphasizing the attempts to evangelize Native Americans. Benjamin
1 Rothman, Alison Games and Alan. Major Problems in Atlantic History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
2 Ibid
3 Ibid
1
investigates the many interactions between the aboriginal populations and the European
colonists. He turned his focus to the European conversion movement, which was sparked by
papal decrees to suppress infidels and preserve "barbarian nations" and intense religious
enthusiasm4. Benjamin sheds light on the intricate relationships between religious coercion and
cultural interchange in the Atlantic World during this time. Religion was used as one of the
motivations for exploration and Imperialism, and we learn that the Europeans often used
Religion as a front to take over the territory or fought with Religious groups whose ideals were
pure but conflicted with the European motive of empire-building5.
Games and Rothman address the cruelty and ethical defenses of the Atlantic slave trade
in this chapter. They draw attention to the unsettling claim made by Captain William Snelgrave
that Africans were somehow better off as slaves, which reflects the distorted ideas that were
common among Europeans in the eighteenth century6. The writers criticize the dehumanization
of Africans and the excuses offered for their slavery. They had to face the brutal truths of the
slave trade and its lasting effects on American and African society.
Benjamin gives us insight into the emergence of these slave civilizations in the New
World and the Atlantic Plantation Complex. Along with the viewpoints of colonists who valued
riches and power over the freedom of enslaved people, the economic factors fueling the demand
4 Benjamin, Thomas. Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900. Cambridge,
2009.
5 Ibid
6 Rothman, Alison Games and Alan. Major Problems in Atlantic History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin,
2008
2
for forced labor are examined7. This helps to give us a greater understanding of the Atlantic
World's systems for enslavement and the exploitation of people for financial benefit.
Ira Berlin describes in his article, “From Creole to African: Atlantic Creoles and the
Origins of African-American Society in Mainland North America," that the experiences of
Atlantic Creoles shaped African American society in mainland North America, or enslaved
Africans who were brought to the Americas via the transatlantic slave trade and because of their
situation, had a tremendous amount of exposure to the language and culture of Europe. Berlin
contends that Atlantic Creoles played a crucial role in shaping African American culture in the
early colonial period, bridging African and European cultures and helping to create a distinct
African American identity. Using primary sources helps define the article as it supports the
argument that he is making. Understanding the history of African American culture and identity
offers important insights into the complex cultural exchange and hybridization processes that
shaped the Atlantic world8.
Major Takeaways and Understanding
Here are my major takeaways from this week's reading. First is that the transatlantic
slave trade was a crucial aspect of the Atlantic world economy and had a profound impact on the
lives of millions of Africans who were forcibly taken from their homes and transported to the
Americas to work on plantations. How the slave trade was intertwined with broader economic
7 Benjamin, Thomas. Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900. Cambridge,
2009.
8 Berlin, Ira. "From Creole to African: Atlantic Creoles and the origins of African-American society in mainland North
America." The WIlliam and Mary Quarterly, 1996: 251-288.
3
and political developments in Europe and the Americas and how enslaved Africans could resist
and adapt to their circumstances proved crucial. Secondly, the interaction between Europeans
and Native Americans in the early colonial period was characterized by a wide range of
relationships, including cooperation, conflict, and cultural exchange. How Native American
societies were able to resist and adapt to European colonization and how European colonization
had a profound impact on Native American cultures and societies was also very prominent.
Third, the slave trade was a brutal and dehumanizing experience for millions of Africans
who were forcibly taken from their homes and transported to the Americas to work on
plantations. This experience can never be taken away from the history of the Atlantic and its
future moving forward. Lastly, is that a complex web of connections and interactions between
Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans characterized the Atlantic world. The ways these
groups interacted with each other through trade, diplomacy, warfare, and cultural exchange
highlight how these interactions shaped the Atlantic world's social, economic, and political
developments. Overall, the reading emphasized the complex relationships between Europeans,
their captives, and the natives of the land that the slaves went to. Very enlightening.
4
Annotated Bibliography
Furstenberg, Francois. "Atlantic Slavery, Atlantic Freedom: George Washington,
Slavery, and Transatlantic Abolitionist Networks." The Journal of American
History, vol. 82, no. 1, 1995, pp. 5-25.
Annotation:
Historian and scholar François Furstenberg is well-known for his knowledge of early
American history, especially the colonial and revolutionary eras. After graduating from
Columbia University with a bachelor's degree, he continued to Johns Hopkins University for
his doctorate. His studies center on how early American politics, culture, and society
interacted. The relationship between George Washington and the transatlantic abolitionist
movement is examined in this article by Francois Furstenberg, who contends that
Washington's experiences as a slave owner and his contacts with abolitionists in Europe
influenced his opinions on slavery. To bolster his claims, Furstenberg consults a variety of
original materials, such as Washington's private letters and reports from modern newspapers.
The article highlights how thoughts regarding slavery and abolition spread throughout the
Atlantic region and situates Washington's opinions within the larger framework of
transatlantic abolitionist networks. The paper significantly contributes to the body of
knowledge regarding George Washington and the history of abolitionism. It also sheds light
on the nuanced interactions between freedom and slavery in the Atlantic region.
Bibliography:
Inikori, Joseph E. "Slavery and Atlantic Commerce, 1650-1800." The Journal of
African History, vol. 37, no. 1, 1996, pp. 103-126.
Annotation:
Renowned historian Joseph Inikori is well-known for his studies on African economic
history, emphasizing the transatlantic slave trade and how it affected African economies and
5
communities. Nigeria was the place of his birth, although he eventually studied in the US.
After receiving his Ph.D. in economic history from Northwestern University, Inikori has
worked as a professor at several universities, including Harvard University and the
University of Rochester. His work has significantly advanced our knowledge of the
economic aspects of the transatlantic slave trade. In this article, Inikori investigates the
connection between Atlantic trade and slavery between 1650 and 1800. Inikori contends that
the development of the slave system was largely driven by the financial interests of European
traders and plantation owners and that the growth of Atlantic commerce was intimately
linked to the extension of the slave trade. The article's premise is supported by various
primary sources, such as economic data, shipping records, and firsthand stories. Inikori also
highlights how broader world trends influenced the development of the Atlantic economy by
placing the expansion of Atlantic commerce within the larger framework of global economic
history. The paper contributes significantly to the body of knowledge regarding the history of
slavery in the Atlantic region. It sheds light on the financial underpinnings of the slave
system.
Bibliography:
Stevenson, Brenda. "Introduction: Women, Slavery, and the Atlantic World." The
William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 58, no. 1, 2001, pp. 3-30.
Annotation:
Noted historian Brenda Elaine Stevenson is an expert in gender studies, women's history, and
African American history. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's
degree and was born in Virginia. Stevenson's research focuses on gender, family, and
sexuality concerns as well as African American experiences, especially during the eras of
slavery and Reconstruction. The William and Mary Quarterly's special issue on women and
slavery in the Atlantic region is introduced by Stevenson in this piece. Stevenson emphasizes
how women actively participated in the slave system and trade, acting as both agents of
resistance and uprising and victims of slavery. The article examines the lives of enslaved
women in the Atlantic region by drawing on various primary sources, such as slave
narratives, court documents, and private letters. In addition, Stevenson situates the
experiences of women who were held in slavery within the larger framework of Atlantic
history, emphasizing how larger political, social, and economic forces influenced the slave
system. The paper gives a useful summary of how race, gender, and slavery intersected in the
Atlantic region and offers significant insights into the lives of women who were held as
slaves.
6
Bibliography
Benjamin, Thomas. Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900.
Cambridge, 2009.
Berlin, Ira. "From Creole to African: Atlantic Creoles and the origins of African-American society in
mainland North America." The William and Mary Quarterly, 1996: 251-288.
Rothman, Alison Games, and Alan. Major Problems in Atlantic History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
7
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