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Slavery and the Enlightenment in the British Atlantic, 1750-1807

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Slavery and the Enlightenment in the British Atlantic, 1750–1807

by Vijay Prashad

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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File size	:	7805 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	368 pages

Slavery was a central part of the British Empire in the eighteenth century. It was also a time of great intellectual ferment, when the Enlightenment was challenging traditional ideas about society and government. This book examines the complex relationship between slavery and the Enlightenment in the British Atlantic world.

The book begins by exploring how the ideas of the Enlightenment were used to justify slavery. Some Enlightenment thinkers argued that slavery was a natural and necessary institution that was essential for the progress of civilization. Others argued that slavery was a violation of natural rights and that it should be abolished.

The book then examines how the Enlightenment helped to create a climate of opposition to slavery. The ideas of the Enlightenment inspired a growing number of people to question the morality of slavery and to demand its abolition. This led to the formation of abolitionist movements in Britain and the United States.

The book concludes by arguing that the Enlightenment had a profound impact on the history of slavery in the British Atlantic world. The ideas of the Enlightenment helped to justify slavery, but they also helped to create a climate of opposition to slavery. This ultimately led to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1807.

This book is a major contribution to the study of slavery and the Enlightenment. It is a nuanced and comprehensive account of a complex and important topic. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of slavery, the Enlightenment, or the British Atlantic world.

About the Author

David Brion Davis is an American historian who is considered one of the world's leading experts on slavery. He is a professor of history at Yale University and the author of several books on slavery, including The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution, 1770-1823 (1975) and Inhuman Bondage: The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World (2006).

Reviews

"This is a major work of scholarship that will be essential reading for anyone interested in the history of slavery, the Enlightenment, or the British Atlantic world." - The Journal of American History

"Davis has written a masterful account of the complex relationship between slavery and the Enlightenment in the British Atlantic world. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of slavery or the Enlightenment." - The William and Mary Quarterly