Slavery and the atlantic slave trade Research Paper

Slavery and the atlantic slave trade - Research Paper Example The importing of African slaves became an essential, acceptable and profitable part of European commerce. Taking advantage of the internecine warring amidst African nations, Europeans forcefully removed Africans from their homeland, with the largest numbers from the Gold, Ivory and West Coasts. The cruel system of African slavery was uniquely different from other forms of slavery due to the brutal manner in which it was conducted, the treatment of African slaves as goods or personal property, and the great numbers of people who were captured as slaves, believed to be over 50 million. The one-way trip to the Americas was known as the â€Å"Middle-Passage†. One of the major debates among historians about the transatlantic slave trade argues the specific reasons for Europeans to enslave Africans during an extensive period spanning the 15th to the early 19th century. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to determine whether European motivation for the slave trade was rel ated to profits, racism, or had another explanation. The Significance and Long-Term Effects of the Slave Trade Historian Marcus Rediker has explored not only the transatlantic slave trade, but also the slave ships by which the trade was carried out for centuries. The transportation of enslaved Africans and business transactions of slaves towards their use as forced labor, forms history’s greatest imposed migration. ... Contrastingly, the loss of large numbers of its people led to extensive decline in Africa’s economy and political situation. Despite rich natural resources, the continent’s inability to overcome its low levels of development towards progress is attributed fully to its past of enslavement and depletion of its population3. However, other reasons such as the siphoning away of world financial aids meant for Africa’s development, by politicians in the weak political system, further undermines the continent’s future. Racism and the Brutality of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Significantly, racism is defined as white supremacy4, because no other race in the world has asserted itself to be the superior race; and used political or economic resources to impose oppression on others on the basis of race. The Europeans considered themselves as the superior race on the basis of their light skin color, and believed that dark skin genetically predetermined Africans as infe rior, and suitable only for the status of slave. Thus, the Europeans developed deeply ingrained discrimination against the dark coloured Africans as â€Å"others† belonging to a lower class of humanity. This approach is also evident in the fact that Europeans did not enslave other Europeans because of an underlying commitment to individual rights. They considered other whites as similar to themselves, and consequently their equals. Since Africans were considered as different both physically and culturally, this â€Å"otherness† was the rationalization for enslaving, ill-treating and enforcing hard labor on them. Carl Degler5 and Winthrop Jordan6 supported this view of racism being key to Africans’ enslavement by the white Europeans.

The Gods of Ancient Greece Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Gods of Ancient Greece - Essay Example For the Greeks their gods were immortal, omnipresent and adorable. They could control all mortals at every stage of their lives, prescribing their fate and their relationships. Zeus According to the belief of the Ancient Greeks, Zeus was the king of all gods. He got this position after fighting with his father, Kronos who killed his children by swallowing him because he feared that they might kill him when they grow up. However, he was tricked by his wife and Zeus was saved from death. Zeus saved his two sisters and three brothers also from the wicked father (Hansen, 2004). Zeus and his brothers - Poseidon and Hades - decided to rule the world after dividing it amongst themselves. Zeus took charge of all the heavens while Poseidon was responsible for the sea. Hades took over the underworld. The three brothers were quite happy with their choice. Zeus’ wife, Hera, was very jealous because her husband had a number of girlfriends and a whole bunch of children. Zeus loved his child ren and all of them had super powers. The most powerful god was Zeus. He could throw his voice and sound like anybody and change the shape of his body. He could even take the form of an animal. Zeus could throw lightning bolts which were carried by his horse, Pegasus. Zeus was short tempered though his sense of humor was very good. Nothing could scare Zeus but his wife Hera. Zeus’ symbols were the thunderbolt, eagle and oak. Every four years Greeks hold an Olympic Games festival which is dedicated to Zeus and men from all over Greek world participate in the competitions. Hera Hera was the sister and wife of the king of gods, Zeus, and the queen of gods. She was the goddess of motherhood and marriage and their main purpose was to protect women, although usually liked to persecute and punish the many mistresses of her husband and children resulting from these courtships outside of their marriage. She was known as Juno in Ancient Rome. Her parents were Rhea and Cronus (Littleton , 2005). Peacock and cow were sacred to Hera. She was portrayed as a royal and sincere goddess and was often crowned with polos which were worn by several Great Goddesses. Hera was extremely jealous of the women her husband was involved with. When Zeus fell in love with a lady, Alkemene, Hera did not like it. The lady bore Zeus’ child Hercules who Hera many times attempted to kill. She kept two snakes in Hercules cot but he was able to save himself with his superhuman strength. Hera was known for her jealous and vengeful nature against the ladies who were involved with Zeus and their children. She was also offended when she was not chosen as the most beautiful goddess. Samos is believed to be Hera’s birth place. Polos and scepter are the symbols of Hera. Athena Athena was Zeus’ daughter and was born without a mother. Myths say that she was born directly out of Zeus’ brain, holding a spear and shield and wearing a helmet. Athena was her father’s fav orite child. She began as a fully armed goddess of war and then became the patron goddess of Athens and a symbol of wisdom. Athena was a very powerful goddess and was one of the 12 deities who had a seat on Mount Olympus. Athena was the one who invented the bridle, chariot and the built the first ship. Athena was worshipped by the Greeks all over the world and was called as Athena Polias which means â€Å"Athena of the city†