Chapter Review
This week's readings focus on the rivalries that were happening at the beginning of the
18th century. As we have been moving through the years, we are now in the time period of
imperialism and the revolutions that come with that. Led by the American Revolution, the
victory over the British gave hope to other countries and territories that were looking to
remove themselves from imperial control and the thumb of slavery. This week's authors and
historians focused on imperialism, the revolutions happening in the world, and their effect on
the Atlantic world.
Thomas Benjamin starts chapter ten by looking at the rivals that are happening around
the world. Benjamin mainly focused on France and Great Britain and the fight for land and
growth to see who could become the strongest empires. 1689-1815 was nothing but constant
conflict between multiple countries. It was not until the 17th century that the world saw the
decline in Spain as they started to pull back from the conflict1. At the same time, the world is
also being introduced to the United States of America. The Age of Revolution was mainly
about the spreading of ideas and beliefs. However, that did not stop the great powers from
fighting over politics, especially between the larger countries2. Great Britain continued to
dominant throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, especially when looking into the expansion
into the United States. When moving into chapter 11, the focus starts turning towards liberty.
Some revolutions were happening in the 1780s and 1790s within many countries. The United
States started to fight for their freedom from Great Britain. Several smaller African and
1 Benjamin, Thomas. Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900. Cambridge,
2009.
2 Ibid
1
Caribbean countries could see what the United States did, which started a domino effect3.
These revolutions were all about liberty and freedom from the large empires that started the
path to freedom from those countries, women’s rights, and African-American rights4.
When moving on to the chapters by Games and Rotham, they were very similar but hit
on different main points. Chapter 10 investigates imperialism and the conquests and specific
imperial conquests. There was a focus on Spain and how they tried to reassert their control and
power over colonial affairs5. There were some positive documents and conversations on
England’s conquest. The opposite could be said for documents and discussions on the French
attacks. As the book moves onto the next chapter, there is again a focus on the revolutions
during the 18th century. The American Revolution was part of the Age of Revolutions, more
about spreading ideas and beliefs6. As they were spread throughout Europe and eventually into
the European colonies, these ideas and beliefs started a spark. This spark turned into a
revolution involving separating the smaller colonies from their mother-countries7. The United
States started first with their revolution as to why they should be told what to do by a
government that is not even there to see what their people go through daily. The US
independence then moved to Haiti and continued throughout South America and Africa.
These revolutions started to break down the large empire that Great Britain had started
to grow. Several issues arose in Great Britain before the revolutions, such as debt from
3 Benjamin, Thomas. Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900. Cambridge,
2009.
4 Ibid
5 Rothman, Alison Games and Alan. Major Problems in Atlantic History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
6 Ibid
7 Breen, T.H. " Baubles of Britain": The American and Consumer Revolutions of the Eighteenth Century."" Past
and Present, 1988: 73-104
2
previous wars. The loss of these colonies in the Caribbean and North America greatly impacted
the Atlantic World. These colonies could be their own free country compared to a country
owned by another. Three articles tied this week’s module together and examined what was
happening in the Atlantic world. The first article looks into a tragedy that happened in the
French Atlantic. There is a main focus on the expedition to Kourou, which was in French
Guyana then. Many people embarked on this area, and about 9,000 people ended up dying
within the first few months due to disease, starvation, and/or despair8. The people who were
able to return to France were also very malnourished or suffering from diseases. The second
article moves on to the revolutions during the 18th century, especially in America. The focus
was on the crisis happening in Boston, MA, and colonists who were angered with Great Britain
and the politics that were happening9. This slowly turned into the colonists forming their new
nation. The final article is very interesting as it looks at before the revolutions. Pirates were
very well known during the early 18th century and were about robberies of other ships. The
article continues to explore what piracy was and focuses on the experiences that they faced,
whether social or cultural10.
8 Rothschild, Emma. "A Horrible Tragedy in the French Atlantic." Past and Present, 2006: 67-108.
9 Breen, T.H. ""Baubles of Britain": The American and Consumer Revolutions of the Eighteenth Century" ."
Past and Present, 1988: 73-104.
10 Rediker, Marcus. """Under the Banner of King Death": The Social World of Anglo-American Pirates,
1716 to 1726"." The WIlliam and Mary Quarterly: A Magazine of Early American History, 1981: 203-227.
3
Major Takeaways and Understanding
The readings about the Atlantic world during the era of transatlantic exchange highlight
the interconnectedness and mutual influence among societies around the Atlantic basin. They
suggest that the Atlantic world was characterized by an intricate web of connections that
facilitated the exchange of goods, people, and ideas, transcending national and regional
boundaries. The readings provide evidence of shared values, cultural diffusion, and economic
and political interdependence, creating a sense of community and identity across the Atlantic
basin. However, it is important to recognize that there were significant differences, tensions, and
disparities among different regions and societies and that the existence of a cohesive
"hemispheric community" is complex and subject to interpretation and debate. It is crucial to
consider the diversity and complexity of the Atlantic world when analyzing the nature of
transatlantic exchange during this period.
The reading for this week provides additional insights that are quite helpful in
understanding the connection and mutual influence among the societies located throughout the
Atlantic basin during the period of transatlantic exchange. The impact of the transatlantic slave
trade on African communities is discussed in Chapter 10 of both books. Topics covered include
how the trade was structured, how slaves were treated, and how the trade affected African
societies. Much of the attention was directed toward the resistance and rebellion of slaves and
abolitionists' efforts to end the trade. This occurred concurrently with the execution of the
American Revolution and the triumph over the British. Due to this opportunity, enslaved people
and individuals from other countries were inspired to investigate the concept of revolutions in
their respective countries and territories. Both books continue to investigate the cultural
exchanges and interactions between Africans, Europeans, and indigenous peoples in the
4
Americas. They address how different cultures impacted one another and how new cultural
forms formed due to these exchanges. When it comes to the Revolutionary mindset that is
gaining traction in the region, the function of religion in the Atlantic globe continues to be an
essential component. People can perceive themselves as free and independent without being
subject to the authority of another man or slave. On the other hand, they investigate the
contradictory aspects of religion, namely how it was utilized to rationalize tyranny and
resistance. While acknowledging the significant differences, tensions, and disparities between
various regions and societies, these chapters provide evidence of shared values, cultural
diffusion, and economic and political interdependence that contributed to forming a sense of
community and identity across the Atlantic basin.
5
Annotated Bibliography
Bailyn, Bernard. The ideological origins of the American Revolution. Harvard University
Press, 2017.
The American Revolution and the country's intellectual history during the colonial and
revolutionary eras were two areas of expertise for renowned American historian Bernard
Bailyn. His research primarily examined the intellectual currents that influenced the
revolutionaries' beliefs and motivations, emphasizing the conceptual foundations of the
American Revolution. Probably the most well-known work he has written is "The Ideological
Origins of the American Revolution" (1967), which is still regarded as a classic in the area
and won the Pulitzer Prize for History. The book is based on extensive research in primary
sources, including newspapers, pamphlets, and political writings from the colonial period.
Bailyn's analysis is deeply contextual, considering the economic, social, and cultural factors
that shaped colonial society. He also pays close attention to the role of language and rhetoric
in forming political ideas, arguing that the colonists' use of language was instrumental in
mobilizing public opinion in support of the Revolution.
Nathan Perl-Rosenthal. “Atlantic Cultures and the Age of Revolution.” The William
and Mary Quarterly 74, no. 4 (2017): 667–96.
https://doi.org/10.5309/willmaryquar.74.4.0667.
Historian Nathan Perl-Rosenthal focuses on the French Revolution and its effects worldwide,
with a particular interest in modern European and Atlantic history. He has studied and
written much on political economics, social movements, and the relationship between
colonialism and revolution. In this piece, Perl-Rosenthal delves into the cultural dimensions
of the Age of Revolution in the Atlantic region, emphasizing the influence of political
rhetoric, public opinion, and print culture on the development of revolutionary movements in
the Americas and Europe. He contends that the Atlantic region was a "hotbed of
revolutionary potential" during this time and that cross-fertilization and cultural interchange
were crucial to the emergence of revolutionary ideologies and practices.
Postma, Johannes. “The Dimension of the Dutch Slave Trade from Western Africa.” The
Journal of African History 13, no. 2 (1972): 237–48. http://www.jstor.org/stable/180853
The late Johannes Postma (1935–2016) was a renowned historian who focused on Dutch
colonialism in Asia and Africa, especially the Dutch East India Company (VOC) history.
Although he was born in the Netherlands, he eventually studied in the US. Postma was a
prolific writer and scholar who substantially contributed to our knowledge of early modern
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Dutch colonial administration, trade, and growth. His writings span a wide range of subjects,
from Dutch colonization in Africa to the activities of the VOC in Asia.
This article by Johannes Postma provides an in-depth analysis of the Dutch slave trade from
Western Africa during the 17th and 18th centuries. The author presents a comprehensive
account of the trade routes, the numbers of African slaves who were transported, and the
factors that contributed to the success of the Dutch slave trade. The article is based on
extensive research in primary sources, such as ship logs, financial records, and other
historical documents. Postma's analysis is highly detailed, and he provides statistical data on
the number of slaves imported by the Dutch, their origins, and their destinations. He also
discusses the economic and political factors that drove the trade, including the competition
between European powers to control African resources and the need for labor in the Dutch
colonies in the Americas. Overall, this article is an essential resource for scholars and
researchers interested in the history of the Dutch slave trade and its impact on Western
Africa.
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Bibliography
Benjamin, Thomas. Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History,
1400-1900. Cambridge, 2009.
Breen, T.H. ""Baubles of Britain": The American and Consumer Revolutions of the Eighteenth
Century" ." Past and Present, 1988: 73-104.
Rediker, Marcus. """Under the Banner of King Death": The Social World of Anglo-American
Pirates, 1716 to 1726"." The WIlliam and Mary Quarterly: A Magazine of Early
American History, 1981: 203-227.
Rothman, Alison Games and Alan. Major Problems in Atlantic History. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin, 2008.
Rothschild, Emma. "A Horrible Tragedy in the French Atlantic." Past and Present, 2006: 67-
108.
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