Slave Revolts (Greenwood Guides to Historic Events, 1500-1900)

by Johannes Postma

Overview

Since the days of antiquity, people have been forced into servitude because of differences in gender, race, class, religion, or level of power. For just as long, those under subjugation have rebelled against it. From the Palmares in Brazil to pre-Civil War slave revolts to the modern-day Hutu/Tutsi conflict, this volume discusses age and gender, caste and class, and origin and ethnicity as the factors, effects and legacy of one of the oldest and most outrageous human practices.

Thematic chapters present an in-depth survey of major slave rebellions throughout modern history, from all areas of the globe. Topics include the Maroons of Jamaica, Slave revolts in Sub Saharan Africa, major slave rebellions in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Apartheid and forced labor in the 20th century. Ready reference features such as primary documents and biographies of key figures round out the work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313338540
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/30/2008
Series:	Greenwood Guides to Historic Events 1500-1900 Series
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Johannes Postma taught European and African History at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he is now Emeritus Professor. He is author of The Atlantic Slave Trade (Greenwood 2003), The Dutch in the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1600-1815 (1990), and is editor and co-author of Riches from Atlantic Commerce: Dutch Transatlantic Trade and Shipping, 1585-1817 (2003). Since his retirement in 2001, he has lived in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword by Linda S. Frey and Marsha L. Frey
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chronology of Events
1. Slavery and Slave Rebellions Before 1500
2. Slave and Peasant Revolts in Europe and the Mediterranean World, 1500-1900
3. Slave and Peasant Rebellions in Asia and Africa
4. Slave Revolts in Spanish America and the Caribbean
5. Slave Revolts in Brazil and North America
6. Marronage: Rebellion Through Flight
7. Identity and Leadership in Slave Revolts
8. Legacy of Slave Revolts
Biographical Sketches: Notable Persons in Slave Revolts
Primary Documents about Slave and Peasant Revolts
Glossary of Terms
Select and Annotated Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Well researched and informative, this work offers an in-depth survey of the world's major slave revolts and touches on many of the lesser-known aspects of them. Little has been written about this topic since the documentation of the subject is relatively scanty (largely because slave revolts were rarely successful)….This intriguing reference stands alone in its field and will be a solid addition.” —School Library Jourbanal

“High school students and up will learn about historic events that have shaped the world.” —MultiCultural Review

“The author puts forward a global view on the topic and adds chapters on pre-1500s peasant uprisings, marronage (rebellion through flight), and slave leadership roles. Common themes of harsh treatment and the threat of punishment are echoed in the short biographies and primary-source documents that supplement a text written for advanced researchers.” —Curriculum Connections

“…this volume seems like a useful addition to college and school libraries, particularly if institutions can add complementary books in the series.” —ARBA

From the Publisher

Gr 10 Up

Well researched and informative, this work offers an in-depth survey of the world's major slave revolts and touches on many of the lesser-known aspects of them. Little has been written about this topic since the documentation of the subject is relatively scanty (largely because slave revolts were rarely successful). The book examines variations in slavery definitions and details the earliest (pre-1500) forms of rebellion across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and pre-Columbian America. Chapters are based on those geographic areas and on themes, such as marronage (rebellion through flight). The brutality of the suppression of these revolts is a common theme, as is the idea that, until 1790, rebellions were usually organized in response to poor treatment or the threat of punishment rather than attempts to overthrow the institution of slavery. Much attention is given to the uprisings that took place on slave ships. Also detailed are the circumstances in which slaves would be most likely to mutiny (e.g., those not born into slavery were more likely to take such action) and the circumstances in which uprisings were less likely (e.g., areas such as Japan and China where the slave population was too small for collaborative action). The book also contains an extensive bibliography and a short collection of biographical entries of individuals who played important roles. Several maps but lamentably few illustrations are included. This intriguing reference stands alone in its field and will be a solid addition.-Robyn Walker, Elgin Court Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada

School Library Journal