Oloudah Equianos The Slave Trade Essay example - 934 Words

Oloudah Equianos The Slave Trade Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in an area of Africa which is now Nigeria. At the age of eleven he was captured and brought into slavery. In his book, The Slave Trade, Equiano describes the slave trade during this time. He illustrates how he became a slave and how slaves were treated. Through his descriptions of his homeland and other aspects of his life, we gain insight into the state of world trade at that time. Equianos description of his homeland exemplifies the Columbian Exchange in operation. First of all, Equiano discusses how planters from the West Indies preferred slaves from Benin because of their ability and hardiness. This statement illustrates a connection between the Eastern†¦show more content†¦One way to become a slave in Equianos homeland was to be convicted of a heinous crime such as kidnapping or adultery. Slavery was used as a kind of punishment for these crimes. Prisoners of war were also many times condemned to slavery. Many of these prisoners were purchased by the Oye-Eboe. Another method slave traders used to obtain slaves was through the act of kidnapping. Olaudah Equiano, along with his sister, was brought to slavery this way. Equiano and his sister were home alone one day and were captured by a man and a woman who couldve been Oye-Eboe. There were many,ways to become a slave in Equianos time. Equianos treatment as a slave illustrates a sharp contrast between how slaves were treated in Africa as opposed to his treatment on a British slave ship. Equiano first describes how he was treated during his kidnapping. Both he and his sister were starved, tied up, gagged, and placed in a bag; this treatment, however, doesnt compare to how he was treated later on. Equiano discusses the many different masters he worked for while still in Africa. Equiano was mainly a house servant and treated well, in some instances almost like one of the family. Once he was purchased in order to serve as a companion to a widows son, and was treated with as much respect as his young master. Family was greatly respected in Africa, even the families of slaves. Equiano was reunited with his sister by chance during his service for a particular master. He andShow MoreRelatedThe French And Indian Wars Essay1181 Words   |  5 Pageslingering issues that these superpowers had with one another carried on to the Americas. This led to several issues such as war and slavery. One of the French and Indian wars completely changed the life of Eunice Williams while the transatlantic slave trade did the same for Olaudah Equiano. In the early Eighteenth century there was a tremendous amount of hostility between France and England in the Americas. France and England both had territories in North America and as they started expanding they