Life on A Slave Ship

The Infographics Show
10 Sept 202014:56
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe script recounts the harrowing journey of the 1694 British slave ship 'Hannibal,' highlighting the brutal conditions and high mortality of the 692 African slaves aboard. It delves into the historical context of the Atlantic slave trade, the roles of European countries, and the inhumane treatment of slaves, including forced exercise, branding, and the captain's sympathetic yet conflicted perspective. The narrative also touches on individual stories of resistance and the eventual abolitionist movements.

Takeaways
  • 📜 The script recounts a tragic voyage of the British slave ship 'The Hannibal' in 1694, carrying 692 slaves from Africa to the Americas with only 372 surviving the journey.
  • ⏳ It details the horrific conditions aboard the ship, including dysentery, self-starvation, and suicide by jumping overboard, which were driven by the inhumane treatment of the enslaved.
  • 🌍 The Atlantic slave trade involved a triangular route with European countries, primarily England, The Netherlands, France, Spain, and Portugal, participating in the buying and selling of African slaves.
  • 🛳 The script describes the 'Middle Passage' as the leg of the triangular trade where slaves were transported from Africa to the Americas, often under brutal conditions.
  • 🏰 'Slave Castles' were built by European traders on the African coast to hold captured slaves before they were transported across the Atlantic.
  • 📊 The script provides statistics on the slave trade, including the percentage of slaves and crew who died during the voyages and the fluctuating prices of slaves.
  • 🔗 It highlights the personal account of Captain Thomas Phillips, who documented the suffering and death of the slaves on the Hannibal, and his own moral conflict with the trade.
  • 🤝 The narrative includes the perspective of Olaudah Equiano, a former slave who provided a first-hand account of the deplorable conditions and the psychological torment experienced by slaves.
  • 👶 The script emphasizes the indiscriminate nature of the slave trade, affecting men, women, and children, with a significant number of children among the enslaved.
  • 🔗 It also touches on the resistance and acts of kindness by individuals like Edward Rushton, who risked his life to help the slaves and later became an abolitionist.
  • 🕊️ The script concludes by acknowledging the eventual abolition of slavery and the ongoing struggle for recognition and understanding of the atrocities committed during the slave trade era.
Q & A

  • What was the name of the British slave ship mentioned in the script?

    -The name of the British slave ship was 'The Hannibal'.

  • How many slaves were on board 'The Hannibal' when it set sail in 1694?

    -There were 692 slaves on board 'The Hannibal' when it set sail in 1694.

  • What was the primary destination of the slaves aboard 'The Hannibal'?

    -The primary destination of the slaves was the New World, specifically the Americas, where they would be forced to work in brutal conditions.

  • What were some of the causes of death among the slaves during the voyage?

    -Some slaves died from dysentery, while others willfully starved themselves to death or jumped overboard, preferring death to enslavement.

  • How many slaves survived the journey to the New World on 'The Hannibal'?

    -Only 372 of the enslaved men, women, and children survived the journey to the New World.

  • What was the main purpose of the 'Middle Passage' during the Atlantic slave trade?

    -The 'Middle Passage' was the journey from Africa to the Americas, where European traders transported African slaves to be sold in the New World.

  • Which European countries were the main offenders in the Atlantic slave trade?

    -The main offenders in the Atlantic slave trade were England, The Netherlands, France, Spain, and Portugal.

  • What was the term used to describe the period when European ships were better capable of traveling greater distances?

    -The period when European ships were better capable of traveling greater distances is called 'The Age of Discovery'.

  • What was the role of 'middlemen' in the African slave trade?

    -The 'middlemen' were Africans who conducted raids on certain African settlements, often ethnic minorities, and enslaved the people they captured to sell to European traders.

  • What was the name of the disease that many slaves suffered from during their journey, as described by Captain Phillips?

    -Many slaves suffered from 'white flux', an old term for dysentery, during their journey.

  • What was the significance of the brand 'H' on the slaves aboard 'The Hannibal'?

    -The brand 'H' was used to mark the slaves as belonging to 'The Hannibal', signifying their forced identity and ownership.

  • What was the percentage of the crew that died during the voyage of 'The Hannibal'?

    -18 out of the 70 crew members, which is approximately 25.7%, died during the voyage of 'The Hannibal'.

  • What was the name of the young Englishman who became an abolitionist after witnessing the horrors of the slave trade?

    -Edward Rushton was the young Englishman who became an abolitionist after witnessing the horrors of the slave trade.

  • How did the script describe the living conditions of the slaves in the hold of the ship?

    -The script described the living conditions as a torture, with slaves confined to small shelves where they could not even sit up, and subjected to a diet of cornmeal and beans with a liter of water a day.

  • What was the name of the book written by Captain Thomas Phillips about his voyages?

    -The book written by Captain Thomas Phillips was called 'A Journal of a Voyage, Made in the Hannibal of London'.

  • What was the role of 'Slave Castles' built by European traders on the African coast?

    -The 'Slave Castles' were built to hold captured slaves before they were transported to the Americas on slave ships.

  • How did the script describe the psychological impact of the slave trade on the enslaved individuals?

    -The script described the psychological impact as devastating, with slaves experiencing extreme despair, hopelessness, and a desire for death as a preferable alternative to enslavement.

Outlines
00:00
😔 The Harrowing Journey of 'The Hannibal'

The script begins with a recount of the tragic voyage of the British slave ship 'The Hannibal' in 1694, carrying 692 slaves from Africa to the Americas. Many slaves died or committed suicide during the journey due to the brutal conditions. The ship's objective was to sell the slaves in the New World, primarily to countries like England, The Netherlands, France, Spain, and Portugal. The narrative emphasizes the inhumane treatment of the slaves, who were often already enslaved by African owners before being sold to Europeans. The script also touches on the broader historical context of the Atlantic slave trade and the 'Age of Discovery,' highlighting the shift in slave trade dynamics in favor of European powers.

05:00
🌊 The Middle Passage and its Dire Conditions

This paragraph delves into the specifics of the 'Middle Passage,' the leg of the triangular voyage where slaves were transported from Africa to the Americas. It describes the appalling conditions aboard the ship, including the cramped and torturous living quarters, inadequate food and water, and the physical and psychological torments the slaves endured. The narrative also includes the story of Captain Thomas Phillips and his ship 'The Hannibal,' detailing the high mortality rate among both slaves and crew members. The paragraph further explores the economic aspects of the slave trade, the branding of slaves, and the船长's perspective on the inhumanity of the trade, as well as his own moral conflict.

10:03
📜 Firsthand Accounts of Slavery's Cruelty

The final paragraph focuses on first-person accounts of the slave trade, providing a deeply personal perspective on the experiences of those enslaved. It recounts the story of Olaudah Equiano, who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, and his observations of the inhumane conditions aboard the ship. Equiano's narrative is filled with descriptions of the slaves' despair, their attempts at suicide, and the brutal punishments inflicted by the crew. The paragraph also mentions other individuals like Edward Rushton, who, despite being part of the trade, became an abolitionist after witnessing the horrors firsthand. The script concludes with a somber reflection on the lasting impact of the slave trade and a transition to lighter content as a form of relief for the audience.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡The Hannibal
The Hannibal refers to a British slave ship that was in operation during the 17th century. It is central to the video's narrative as it exemplifies the brutal conditions of the transatlantic slave trade. The ship's journey, with the loss of life due to disease, starvation, and suicide, highlights the inhumanity of the trade. The script describes the ship's voyages, the number of slaves it carried, and the tragic outcomes that many faced.
💡Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave Trade was the transatlantic exchange of enslaved Africans by European powers to the Americas from the 15th to the 19th centuries. It is the overarching theme of the video, illustrating the historical context and the scale of human suffering. The script mentions the main offenders in this trade, the conditions on the ships, and the economic implications for the traders.
💡Middle Passage
The Middle Passage refers to the segment of the triangular trade route in which enslaved Africans were transported from Africa to the Americas. It is a key concept in the video that encapsulates the horrors of the journey, including the confinement, disease, and death that the slaves endured. The script provides a vivid account of the conditions during the Middle Passage on the Hannibal.
💡Enslavement
Enslavement is the act of making someone a slave, depriving them of their freedom and subjecting them to forced labor. It is a fundamental concept in the video, depicting the human rights abuses at the core of the slave trade. The script describes how individuals were captured, purchased, and treated as property, with examples of the dehumanizing treatment they received.
💡Shackles
Shackles are chains or restraints used to bind and control slaves, symbolizing the loss of freedom and the physical constraints imposed on the enslaved. In the video's narrative, shackles are mentioned to illustrate the harsh reality of confinement and the prevention of escape, contributing to the overall theme of oppression and dehumanization.
💡Dysentery
Dysentery is an infectious disease characterized by severe diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and death if untreated. In the context of the video, dysentery is a significant cause of death among the slaves during their journey across the Atlantic. The script describes how this disease, referred to as 'white flux,' claimed many lives on the Hannibal.
💡Branding
Branding, in the context of the slave trade, refers to the act of marking slaves with a hot iron to signify ownership. It is a concept that underscores the dehumanization and objectification of slaves. The script mentions that slaves on the Hannibal were branded with an 'H' to identify them as property of the ship, illustrating the cruel practices of the trade.
💡Triangular Trade
Triangular Trade describes the three-legged voyage that European ships undertook, involving the transport of goods, enslaved Africans, and commodities between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It is a key economic concept in the video that explains the trade routes and the flow of goods and people that perpetuated the slave trade. The script outlines the full route and its implications for the enslaved.
💡Olaudah Equiano
Olaudah Equiano was an African writer and abolitionist who provided one of the few first-hand accounts of the Middle Passage. His experiences and observations offer a personal perspective on the video's theme of the slave trade's brutality. The script quotes Equiano's descriptions of the inhumane conditions and the psychological torment faced by the enslaved.
💡Abolitionist
An abolitionist is someone who advocates for the abolition of slavery. In the video, abolitionists like Equiano and Edward Rushton represent the moral opposition to the slave trade. Their actions and beliefs provide a counterpoint to the trade's cruelty and highlight the eventual shift in societal attitudes towards slavery. The script mentions Equiano's role as an outspoken abolitionist after gaining his freedom.
💡Slave Castles
Slave Castles were fortified buildings constructed on the African coast by European traders to hold captured slaves before they were transported across the Atlantic. They symbolize the institutionalization of the slave trade and the systematic capture and confinement of people. The script refers to these castles as places where the Europeans held slaves before embarking on the treacherous Middle Passage.
Highlights

In 1694, the British slave ship 'The Hannibal' embarked on a voyage with 692 African slaves destined for the Americas.

En route, many slaves died from dysentery or chose to starve themselves rather than submit to their captors.

Upon arrival in the New World, only 372 of the enslaved survived, along with 52 of the 70 crew members.

The Atlantic slave trade involved European nations transporting African slaves to the Americas, with England, The Netherlands, France, Spain, and Portugal as the main buyers.

The Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries enabled European ships to travel greater distances, leading to increased slave trade.

One-third of the population between the Senegal and Gambia rivers were enslaved between 1300 and 1900.

Europeans often dealt with African 'middlemen' who conducted raids to capture and enslave people from certain ethnic minorities.

Slave Castles were built by European traders on the African coast to hold captured slaves before transport.

The Hannibal was owned by the Royal African Company and made multiple trips between London, Africa, and Barbados.

Captain Thomas Phillips and his crew faced a 47% death rate among slaves and 18% among crew members during their voyages.

Slaves were kept in small, specially-made shelves in the ship's hold, unable to sit up during their journey.

The ship's owners received around ten pounds for each slave delivered alive to Barbados.

The price of slaves varied greatly, from 2,000 pounds of sugar per slave to £12.80 for one bought in Gambia.

Captain Phillips documented the high death rates due to 'white flux' (dysentery) and smallpox among the slaves.

Phillips expressed sympathy for the slaves and criticized the cruelty and inhumanity of the slave trade.

Olaudah Equiano, an enslaved African, provided a first-hand account of the horrors he experienced on a slave ship.

Edward Rushton, a young Englishman, became an abolitionist after witnessing the inhumane conditions on a slave ship.

The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database records that 12.5 million people were shipped as slaves from 1514 to 1866, with 1.2–2.4 million dying during transport.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Slave TradeAtlantic HistoryHuman RightsCultural HeritageHistorical InjusticeTrans-AtlanticEuropean ColonizationAfrican SlaveryMiddle PassageAbolition Movement