The Portuguese in West Africa; 1415-1670 brings together a collection of documents - all in new English translation - that illustrate aspects of the encounters between the Portuguese and the peoples of North and West Africa in the period from 1400 to 1650. This period witnessed the diaspora of the Sephardic Jews; the emigration of Portuguese to West Africa and the islands; and the beginnings of the black diaspora associated with the slave trade. The documents show how the Portuguese tried to understand the societies with which they came into contact and to reconcile their experience with the myths and legends inherited from classical and medieval learning. They also show how Africans reacted to the coming of Europeans; adapting Christian ideas to local beliefs and making use of exotic imports and European technologies. The documents also describe the evolution of the black Portuguese communities in Guinea and the islands; as well as the slave trade and the way that it was organized; understood; and justified.
#1922220 in Books 2003-05-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.98 x .87 x 5.98l; 1.08 #File Name: 0521012155368 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A "Tour de Force" on SlaveryBy Jack SullivanBeginning to do some writing myself on slavery as it affected the distilling industry; this book provides some excellent statistic on that subject and others dealing with slavery in the mountain area of the South. The author has done prodigious research and has come up with much interesting information leading to an better understanding of the institution; how it was maintained; and the damage it did.8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. A necessary book to understand Slavery; the Appalachians and American historyBy Tony ThomasDunaway's combined works are essential to understand both African American; slavery; and "Appalachian" mystifications. An aura of exceptionalism from slavery; racism; and oppression of African Americans has developed for the Mountain South. Dunaway's meticulous research and her penetrating understanding of the place of Appalachian development in world as well as American economic development pinpoints the domination of slavery over the whole region; politically; socially; and culturally. She explains that the disparities between slaveholders and non-slaveholders led slave holders in many mountain areas to have even more political and social influence in the mountains than in the cotton; rice; and sugar South.Dunaway demolishes the myth that small scale slavery with slaves working alongside masters was better than plantation slavery and exposes the savage nature of the industrial slavery in mines; saltworks; canals; railroads; and foundries that many African Americans in the mountains suffered under. Appalachian slaves suffered worse conditions and certainly worse health and as much; if not more violence; than slaves elsewhere. Moreover; she explains how most free Blacks in mountain areas suffered under conditions little better than slavery and were constantly threatened with being thrown into effective slavery by being indentured to white masters by the courts.At the same time Dunaway focuses on the resistence to slavery by African Americans; particularly in their development and continuation of a culture of resistance and their selection among African and American culture and their own inventions to defend themselves.While Dunaway goes more extensively into family relations in other books; in this book she does not neglect the impact of slavery on the family and the special situations of women and children under the lash of Mountain masters.One subject that this work explains that I have seen few others develop is the degree to which Native Americans were enslaved; especially in the colonial period and the large component of Native Americans in African American ancestry as well as the degree to which Native Americans were sold into slavery in the West Indies.It is not just what we she covers; but the disciplined; well sourced; clearly reasoned; and thorough analysis that makes this book a necessary edition to anyone who is concerned with this aspect of history.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerVery educational.
