18th Century Atlantic World - Assignment Example

Question A 18th century Atlantic world As an African Olaudah Equiano s that slavery had covered almost the whole of America but had endured more in southern America. In fact, most ideas promoting slavery seemed to generate from the south. However, there were still strong arguments channeled from the north that strongly favored slavery, which Fredrick strongly opposed Even though there were a greater number of freed Africans in the south, they continued to live under the shadow of slavery for a long period. The arguments from the south claimed that the sudden end to slavery would have a huge negative impact on the economy (Equiano 19). The narrator argues that slavery especially in Africa had denied him the chance to live peacefully and in harmony with her family members. As Europe grew, the relationship between Africa and Europe came into focus. The description of African religious theories was essential in the evaluation of histography of European academic orientations. The triple religious African heritage, which includes indigenous religion, Islam and Christianity, were the pivot that formed the three main themes of discourse. The accounts describing religion in African or the superficial terms lead to an influence in the perception of philosophers who were enlightened about Africa. In turn, perception about Africa was influenced by progress and reason. The European occupation was often legitimized because of the argument that Christian civilization was introduced, officials in the colonial government realized that changes in African societies may lead to stability loss. The states that he witnessed the sale of slaves to Dutch people while in West Indies. At that time, he was not bought but instead, transported and sold to North America where he was assigned to work in the Virginia plantations doing house chores and light field works. He did not stay for long in time Virginia when a British royal navy lieutenant bought him as a present to his friends in England (Equiano 94) The spread of Islam was neither simultaneous nor uniform, but followed an adaptive and gradual path. However, aesthetic and political influences on the African community are difficult to access. Islamic resistance to representation of animals and people, its interaction with the Africans visual arts was one of the forms of Islam that were accommodated by the local residents. Islam also helped in the reinforcement of the fondness of Africans to geometric design. It was also evident in textile decorations and objects that were crafted. Weaving by the locals was also transformed with the help of the importation of the weaving techniques from north Africa .Islam also had a side by side existence with traditions which were representational such as masquerading. The practices are viewed as supplemental to Islam rather than oppositional. Although Islam has a huge influence on artistic practices in Africa, the legacy that is beating reserved is the monumental architecture. Mosques are the most important aesthetic diversity that was generated by the interaction between the people of Islamic faith and the Africans (Equiano 78). The Islamic spread from Arabia to Africa had affected the slave trade in Africa. Islamic law was influential in the regulation of slavery. It led to the reduction in abuses in the slave trade because Islam encouraged the fleeing of slaves. Africans who gained from the atlantics slave trade were the commercial elites or political members of ruling states in Africa. The Atlantic slave trade began when the interest of the Portuguese to Africa changed from gold to slaves. The trade was in an attempt to expand their territories and their economy because of the readily available labor force (Equiano 90). The Europeans tried to lure the Africans by offering gifts and teaching them about religion and this lead to the spread of Christianity and Islam in Africa. The Trans Atlantic slave trade affected the demography of Africa. The religion of most Africans changed permanently and the gender proportionality in most regions was changed. The ratio of men to women dropped significantly. African leaders who were powerful gained from the trade. The impact of the trade was not only economic but also political. Religion affected the slave trade significantly. The introduction of Islam had an impact on the trade because Islam religion advocated for better treatment of slaves. The religion had an impact since it worked towards the reduction and eradication of the slave trade and this was beneficial to the African slaves. Religion advocated for fair and equal treatment of all the people and this meant that slavery was against the religious beliefs of the people (Equiano 130). The author argues that the blacks slowly gained believe that they were only seen inferior because they were poor and uneducated as most laws and constitutional amendments barred them from seeking intellectual knowledge. However, from his experience as a slave, time had come for them to fight for their rights in the sense that as he spends time with Pascal his master, he attempted to imitate the English culture in which he is entrenched. He is able to speak English and applauds every moment of improvement since he had desired to be in a position to read and write for a long time. Pascal, Equiano master slowly begins to have trust in him in that at some point, he sends him to pick Miss Guerins. They did not treat him badly and even go ahead to support his education and his interest to study Christianity by sending him to school (Equiano 145). His history is quite relevant and at the centre of the controversy of slavery in the 19th century in America. In his narrations and the published autobiography, he presents the detailed firsthand account of the misfortunes faced by slaves and the behaviors of their owners’. Equiano seeks to contrast between the reality of slavery and the romanticism presented by the supporters of slavery through connotative language, powerful irony, and imagery. His rhetorical appeals seek to persuade the reader to see the ills of slavery. The general tone in the text is harsh on slavery and any arguments advocating for it. However, Olaudah Equiano is keen not to persuade victims of slavery to hate their oppressors. Work Cited Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano written by himself. London, 1749. Print. Read More