Customer Reviews

Slavery: A World History

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great book, scholarly but easy to read. Originally published in two volumes, the first half deals with slavery from ancient times to the Renaissance, the second half concentrates on the African slave trade, and also covers some of the modern uses of forced labor, gulags and other types of near-slavery. I particularly appreciated reading about slavery in earliest history, a topic that is rarely covered. The comprehensive nature of this book keeps slavery in perspective, but doesn't shy away from the worst abuses when people are classed as property.

Meltzer provides a readable overview of the role of slavery in human history. Any book that takes on a broad topic such as this is bound to come up short in some ways, but overall he does a creditable job of explaining slavery in various societies for the beginner. Too often Americans tend to particularize their history and fail to see the "big picture". Coming to understand the flow of the slave trade (where most slaves were shipped to the Islands and Brazil), how the British ended slavery, that slavery existed in South America for years after the United States Civil War and continued in the Arab countries helps put a different slant on the issue. Europeans, who are sometimes all too ready to judge the American experience, should consider Belgium's role in Africa.King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa.

I am nearly finished with this book. It is not a gripping story, and it is written at a high school reading level, but it is very interesting, clear and, as far as I know, objective. The author starts from the earliest accounts of slavery, and describes the institution for every era in history. Recommended as a reference book, and a very good survey history.

This is a good introductory text to the topic of slavery, but not great. It is incomplete because it overemphasizes slavery in pre-industrial times, and nearly ignores slavery in the 20th century, especially in regards to prison labor. The book does have a wide geographical reach, and touches on slavery in many parts of the world. I suggest this book as a good introductory text to those without prior knowledge in the subject.