Written by a team of historians under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution, Captive Passage examines the complex causes, outcomes and legacies of the 400-year transatlantic slave trade. The physical, social and emotional meaning of the Middle Passage is explored, as are the history of the abolitionist movement and the struggle for racial justice. This impressive 8 1/2 x 11 book contains over 200 photos of art and artifacts as well as historical figures and documentation.
The transatlantic slave trade existed for about four hundred years. Several authors write about the various aspects of the trade but leave the impression that there was not widespread slavery prior to it ignoring the Romans and others. Overall it is a fair cursory introduction to slave trade between Europeans, Africans, and the Americas.
Although written as an exhibit catalog, this book contains an excellent collection of illustrations and essays on the history and horrors of the Atlantic slave trade. Detailed information is provided to bring home the reality of how slaves were captured, sold, and forced to work. A wonderful combination of images and high-quality historical essays.
A sobering, informative history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The book covers this terrible period in its entirety, identifying the actors in this drama of human suffering, the particulars of the trade, and its ramifications.