A Brief History of Slavery: A New Global History

A thought-provoking and important book that raises essential issues crucial not only for understanding our past but also the present day.

A Panoramic History of Slavery

In this sweeping account, Jeremy Black explores the development of slavery from its origins in the ancient world to its modern manifestations in crimes such as trafficking and bonded labour. The book examines how slavery has taken on many forms throughout history and across the globe, including:

• The uprising of Spartacus in ancient Rome
• The plantations of the West Indies
• The murderous forced labour of gulags and concentration camps

The Role of Slavery in Shaping Societies

Black delves into how slavery:

• Helped consolidate transoceanic empires
• Moulded new world societies, such as America and Brazil

He also charts the long fight for abolition in the 19th century, focusing on:

• The campaigners who fought against slavery
• The harrowing accounts of the enslaved themselves

A Contemporary Perspective

The book reminds us that slavery is still with us today. Coerced labour and exploitation can be found closer to home than we might expect.