A short overview of the trans-Atlantic slave trade from its sixteenth century beginnings to its final abolition in the nineteenth century.
The repercussions of trans-Atlantic slavery continue to influence racial dynamics in Britain and America to this day.
This concise introduction to the history of enslavement covers the main countries involved, explaining the inner workings of the trade and the developments that made it more profitable as the centuries passed. On the human level, the book incorporates the stories of enslaved people, often in their own words, to try to convey the horrors endured by these victims.
Finally, it details the fight against slavery by politicians such as William Wilberforce and by the Royal Navy, and the steps towards eventual abolition.