2.3) early years of enslavement and empire (1560-1730) Flashcards
what is the RAC?
royal african company est.1660
- the company had a monopoly over trade with west africa: the king took half the profits -> it was a global system of enslavement and empire
- the slaves had the letters DY (duke of york) branded onto them to show that they were his property (later king james II)
- in its first 17 years, it transported 100,000 african people and put their profits into the city of london
what were chattel slaves?
they were slaves who when bought became the property of their owner
what is a monopoly?
when a company has complete control of an area of trade/business
what is the EIC?
east india company est.1600
- most prominent trading post was kolkata because it was a wealthy and fertile region that exported products all over asia
- the company was seen as a threat to indian powers, especially when the company developed its own army
what is an ayah?
nannies from india
how did the RAC start?
1560 - john hawkins and francis drake captured 1000 african people and sold them into slavery in the west indies
1660 - charles II grants a charter and set up the RAC, which traded in gold, silver and chattel slaves.
what were the lives of black children already living in england like?
- most were servants or part of the working poor
- it is unknown how they got here
- some black children were employed as servants for the rich because they appear in portraits or diaries
- it was a mark of status to have a black child servant
how were black child servants treated?
- they were often treated like toys
- there were adverts in the press offering rewards for runaway servants who were seen as their owner’s possession
why do some people argue that not all black children were enslaved?
- child servants were seen to be property at the time when legally all children were chattels and could be bought and sold
- we don’t know if the handful of painting and adverts portray the typical life of most black servants
- we don’t they were abused because they were poor, black or children
what evidence is there that black people could lead independent lives at the time?
- pepys writes about an adult black servant mingo who was left his employer’s lighthouse
- pepys mentions jokes and adventures that mingo told him about
- john moore - was admitted to the freedom of york
how did EIC start? and why?
- a charter in 1600 granted by elizabeth
- a market was growing in england for spices and textiles, which india could provide
when did britain (mainly the company) become a dominant power in india?
after defeating a bengali and army in the battle of palashi (plassey) in 1757
why were ayahs brought to britain and where did they come from?
- many british men who emigrated to india to work for the EIC married indian women, many of whom came to britain to live
- british families returning from india brought servants with them - often children - and young women as nannies for their children
how were asian servants treated?
- often seen as status symbols or pets
- some evidence that they were trated like property; given or sold as gifts
