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Johannes-Postma-Slav Slave Revolts Recent Titles in Greenwood Guides to Historic Events, 1500–1900 The Lewis and Clark Expedition Harry William Fritz The Second Great Awakening and the Transcendentalists Barry Hankins The Age of Napoleon Susan P. Conner The American Civil War Cole C. Kingseed The Scientific Revolution and the Foundations of Modern Science Wilbur Applebaum The Mexican War Jeanne T. Heidler The Abolitionist Movement Claudine L. Ferrell Maritime Exploration in the Age of Discovery, 1415–1800 Ronald S. Love The Trail of Tears and Indian Removal Amy H. Sturgis Charles Darwin and The Origin of Species Keith A. Francis The Age of Romanticism Joanne Schneider The Reformation Era Robert D. Linder Slave Revolts JOHANNES POSTMA Greenwood Guides to Historic Events, 1500–1900 Linda S. Frey and Marsha L. Frey, Series Editors GREENWOOD PRESS Westport, Connecticut London Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Postma, Johannes. Slave revolts / Johannes Postma. p. cm.—(Greenwood guides to historic events 1500–1900, ISSN 1538-442X) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-313-33854-0 (alk. paper) 1. Slavery—History. 2. Slave insurrections—History. 3. Slave trade— History. I. Title. HT871.P67 2008 306.306209—dc22 2007048632 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright C 2008 by Johannes Postma All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2007048632 ISBN: 978-0-313-33854-0 ISSN: 1538-442X First published in 2008 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10987654321 CONTENTS Series Foreword by Linda S. Frey and Marsha L. Frey vii Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii Chronology of Events xv Chapter 1 Slavery and Slave Rebellions before 1500 1 Chapter 2 Slave and Peasant Revolts in Europe and the Mediterranean World, 1500–1900 19 Chapter 3 Slave and Peasant Rebellions in Asia and Africa 33 Chapter 4 Slave Revolts in Spanish America and the Caribbean 47 Chapter 5 Slave Revolts in Brazil and North America 71 Chapter 6 Marronage: Rebellion through Flight 91 Chapter 7 Identity and Leadership in Slave Revolts 109 Chapter 8 Legacy of Slave Revolts 121 Biographies 129 Primary Documents 143 Glossary of Selected Terms 177 Annotated Bibliography 179 Index 191 Photographs follow page 90. SERIES FOREWORD American statesman Adlai Stevenson stated, ‘‘We can chart our future clearly and wisely only when we know the path which has led to the present.’’ This series, Greenwood Guides to Historic Events, 1500– 1900, is designed to illuminate that path by focusing on events from 1500 to 1900 that have shaped the world. The years 1500 to 1900 include what historians call the early modern period (1500 to 1789, the onset of the French Revolution) and part of the modern period (1789 to 1900). In 1500, an acceleration of key trends marked the beginnings of an interdependent world and the posing of seminal questions that changed the nature and terms of intellectual debate. The series closes with 1900, the inauguration of the twentieth century. This period witnessed profound economic, social, political, cultural, reli- gious, and military changes. An industrial and technological revolu- tion transformed the modes of production, marked the transition from a rural to an urban economy, and ultimately raised the stan- dard of living. Social classes and distinctions shifted. The emergence of the territorial and later the national state altered man’s relations with and view of political authority. The shattering of the religious unity of the Roman Catholic world in Europe marked the rise of a new pluralism. Military revolutions changed the nature of warfare. The books in this series emphasize the complexity and diversity of the human tapestry and include political, economic, social, intellec- tual, military, and cultural topics. Some of the authors focus on events in U.S. history such as the Salem witchcraft trials, the Amer- ican Revolution, the abolitionist movement, and the Civil War. Others analyze European topics, such as the Reformation and Counter-Reformation and the French Revolution. Still others bridge cultures and continents by examining the voyages of discovery, the Atlantic slave trade, and the Age of Imperialism. Some focus on Series Foreword viii intellectual questions that have shaped the modern world, such as Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, or on turning points such as the Age of Romanticism. Others examine defining economic, religious, or legal events or issues such as the building of the railroads, the Second Great Awakening, and abolitionism. Heroes (e.g., Meri- wether Lewis and William Clark), scientists (e.g., Darwin), military leaders (e.g., Napoleon Bonaparte), poets (e.g., Lord Byron) stride across the pages. Many of these events were seminal in that they marked profound changes or turning points. The Scientific Revolu- tion, for example, changed the way individuals viewed themselves and their world. The authors, acknowledged experts in their fields, synthesize key events, set developments within the larger historical context, and, most important, present well-balanced, well-written accounts that integrate the most recent scholarship in the field. The topics were chosen by an advisory board composed of historians, high school history teachers, and school librarians to support the curriculum and meet student research needs. The vol- umes are designed to serve as resources for student research and to provide clearly written interpretations of topics central to the sec- ondary school and lower-level undergraduate history curriculum. Each author outlines a basic chronology to guide the reader through often-confusing events and presents a historical overview to set those events within a narrative framework. Three to five top- ical chapters underscore critical aspects of the event. In the final chapter the author examines the impact and consequences of the event. Biographical sketches furnish background on the lives and contributions of the players who strut across the stage. Ten to fif- teen primary documents, ranging from letters to diary entries, song lyrics, proclamations, and posters, cast light on the event, provide material for student essays, and stimulate critical engagement with the sources. Introductions identify the authors of the documents and the main issues. In some cases a glossary of selected terms is provided as a guide to the reader. Each work contains an annotated bibliography of recommended books, articles, CD-ROMs, Internet sites, videos, and films that set the materials within the historical debate. Reading these works can lead to a more sophisticated under- standing of the events and debates that have shaped the modern world and can stimulate a more active engagement with the issues that still affect us. It has been a particularly enriching experience to work closely with such dedicated professionals. We have come to know and value even more highly the authors in this series and our Series Foreword ix editors at Greenwood, particularly Kevin Ohe and Michael Hermann. In many cases they have become more than colleagues; they have become friends. To them and to future historians we dedicate this series. Linda S. Frey University of Montana Marsha L. Frey Kansas State University PREFACE Scholarly interest in the history of slavery was considerably stimu- lated by the post–Second World War civil rights movement and the dismantling of European colonial empires, but slave rebellions received only sporadic attention until quite recently. This lack of in- terest may be due in part to the perception that slave rebels were violent criminals. In contrast, those rebels who used violence to fight against dictatorial rule or for freedom from foreign domination were usually acclaimed patriots and freedom fighters. In recent years, however, the historical spotlight on rebel slaves has shown that they were also fighting for liberty and against oppression. After devoting four decades to the study of the Atlantic slave trade, particularly Dutch involvement in it, I expanded my interest in ship- board rebellions and then to slave revolts in general. The result is Slave Revolts, a global overview of four centuries (1500–1900) of struggle against bondage and exploitation. While the book focuses on slave revolts, it includes rebellions by peasants who were exploited by sys- tems of servitude similar to slavery. The slave and peasant revolts cov- ered in this text are only the most consequential and largest of the thousands that took place during these four centuries. Slave Revolts is intended for high school seniors and junior col- lege students, but it might also appeal to the general public. The book is divided into three interrelated units: seven chapters of text, seventeen biographical essays of notable individuals, and fourteen primary documents. An introductory chapter examines slavery and rebellion from ancient times until about 1500 CE. Chapters 2 to 5 examine revolts in different regions of the world during the years 1500–1900. The last three chapters are thematic, focusing on mar- ronage, leadership, and the legacy of slave revolts for our day. The notes and annotated bibliography direct readers to sources for fur- ther study. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Because I have been retired from teaching for the past few years and am far removed from former colleagues, writing this book has been a fairly solitary process. I am fortunate to reside in the vicinity of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, Smith College, and Mount Holyoke College, all of which have excellent libraries with very friendly and helpful librarians, for which I am very grateful. I owe special thanks to Professors Herbert Klein at Columbia and Stanford Universities, and to Wim Klooster at Clark University, for reading the manuscript and offering helpful suggestions and encouragement for the project.
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