Question

The following narrative is from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa (1789).

"I remember, in the vessel in which I was brought over, in the men's apartment, there were several brothers . . . sold in different lots; and it was very moving on this occasion, to see and hear their cries at parting."

Which of the following eighteenth-century practices is described by this narrative?

A.Imperialism
B.Mercantilism
C.Chattel slavery
D.Indentured servitude

Answer 1

Olaudah Equiano's narrative describes the practice of chattel slavery in the eighteenth century, characterized by the dehumanizing treatment of individuals as property and the breaking apart of families.

Step-by-step explanation:

The narrative provided by Olaudah Equiano describes the chattel slavery practice that was common in the eighteenth century. Equiano's account highlights the human tragedies of the Atlantic slave trade, where people were forcibly removed from their homes, treated as property, and sold into slavery. Brothers who were 'sold in different lots' illuminates the brutish fragmentation of families during this period, a signature inhumanity of chattel slavery. Equiano's memoir, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African," speaks to the harrowing experiences of the Middle Passage and the broader transatlantic slave trade, painting a vivid picture of the lives torn apart by the trade.