This sweeping; richly evocative study examines the origins and legacies of a flourishing captive exchange economy within and among native American and Euramerican communities throughout the Southwest Borderlands from the Spanish colonial era to the end of the nineteenth century. Indigenous and colonial traditions of capture; servitude; and kinship met and meshed in the borderlands; forming a "slave system" in which victims symbolized social wealth; performed services for their masters; and produced material goods under the threat of violence. Slave and livestock raiding and trading among Apaches; Comanches; Kiowas; Navajos; Utes; and Spaniards provided labor resources; redistributed wealth; and fostered kin connections that integrated disparate and antagonistic groups even as these practices renewed cycles of violence and warfare. Always attentive to the corrosive effects of the "slave trade" on Indian and colonial societies; the book also explores slavery's centrality in intercultural trade; alliances; and "communities of interest" among groups often antagonistic to Spanish; Mexican; and American modernizing strategies. The extension of the moral and military campaigns of the American Civil War to the Southwest in a regional "war against slavery" brought differing forms of social stability but cost local communities much of their economic vitality and cultural flexibility.
#368826 in Books Philip D Morgan 1998-04-27 1998-04-27Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.65 x 6.13l; 2.45 #File Name: 0807847178736 pagesSlave Counterpoint Black Culture in the Eighteenth Century Chesapeake and Lowcountry
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. easy to read although a difficult topicBy E. TA monumental study; easy to read although a difficult topic.6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. superior analysis with an exhausting amount of informationBy Robert P. MillsMorgan's analysis will give anyone who wants to know more about slavery an immense amount of material. Comparing the Chesapeake and Lowcountry areas of the American colonies during the eighteenth century; Morgan discusses the economic and cultural sides of the different slave institutions and discusses black-white encounters. No matter how one may try to define slavery in one; distinct way; Morgan shows there is always an exception to that definition. I know Morgan worked for many years to produce this book and that this book is the culmination of an immense amount of research and analysis; but this book would make a larger impact if it was shorter. By the time I was done reading this mammoth book; I had a hard time remembering all the topics he brought up. For any history student; like me; it is worth reading; but make sure you give yourself plenty of time to understand it.6 of 13 people found the following review helpful. A Review of Slave CounterpointBy LivI had the pleasure of listening to this author lecture to in class during my senior year of college. Having the opportunity to discuss this book with the author made Slave Counterpoint come to life. Slave Counterpoint makes the topic of Antebellum slavery captivating for those interested in learning about the early days of slavery in the Cheasapeake Bay region. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has a sharp curiosity about early colonial history and wishes to be engaged in an honest account of events(I would recommend reading this book a couple of chapeter at a time).
