the caribbean and the americas Flashcards
(8 cards)
Why is the term “exchange” considered neutral in historical context?
It implies a simple transaction between two parties. However, in the context of colonialism and the Atlantic Slave Trade, it often masked exploitative and violent practices behind a seemingly equal interaction.
What role did tomatoes play in the Columbian Exchange?
Tomatoes, originally from the Americas, became a staple in Italian cuisine after being introduced through the Columbian Exchange. This demonstrates the spread of New World crops to the Old World.
How were pearls from the Pearl Islands near Venezuela tied to enslaved labour?
Pears from the Pearl Islands were harvested through the forced labor of enslaved people, who were kept in cages while free diving to collect pearls. These individuals were often treated as commodities themselves, a stark example of how natural resources were extracted using human suffering.
What was the “Sugar Revolution,” and what were its ecological consequences?
The rapid development of sugar plantations in the Caribbean and Latin America, which involved the extensive clearing of forests for cultivation. This led to soil degradation and the destruction of indigenous populations who were either killed or displaced.
What types of unfree labor were introduced during the colonial period?
Enslaved Africans, Indigenous people, European indentured servants, and convicts or political prisoners.
What is the concept of a “zero-sum game” in mercantilism?
The gain of one party is inherently the loss of another. For example, colonial powers viewed their acquisition of wealth (through slavery and resource extraction) as directly linked to the impoverishment of colonised regions.
How many enslaved people were transported from Western Africa to the Americas between 1650 and 1860?
Approximately 10 to 15 million enslaved people were forcibly transported from Western Africa to the Americas, marking one of the largest human trafficking operations in history.
What is Paul E. Lovejoy’s thesis regarding inter-African trade?
One of the key objectives of the Atlantic Slave Trade was to break, distort, and destroy existing patterns of inter-African trade. The slave trade was used as a tool to undermine African economies and integrate them into the global colonial economic system that benefited European powers.
