History of Slavery in the British Caribbean

Learn about Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade

On this course, you’ll be introduced to the history of slavery and the lived experiences of enslaved people in the British Caribbean.

Explore the link between global racial civil unrest and colonial and post-colonial processes

Against a backdrop of global protests and civil unrest due to racial inequities in our contemporary society, this course offers the opportunity to explore how these inequalities are related to historical colonial processes.

Starting with the context of life, culture, and economy of West Africa, you’ll follow enslaved people through their forced migration to the islands of the Caribbean and the life they found there.

Discover the lives of enslaved people in British colonies in the Caribbean

The course will teach you how enslaved people lived in the Caribbean and what methods were used to control their way of life and oppress enslaved people.

As you interpret different types of historical evidence of slavery through written and visual material, you’ll learn how enslaved people resisted slavery in small, everyday ways, as well as through armed rebellion and revolution.

You’ll also examine the context and events that led to the end of slavery, as well as the labour systems devised to replace it.

Consider the ongoing legacies of British slavery

Led by leading academics from the University of Glasgow, you’ll benefit from a wide range of expertise on the history, archaeology and legacies of slavery.

By the end of the course, you’ll better understand the contemporary legacies of slavery in the modern world and be equipped with the skills to investigate slavery’s legacies in your local area.

The course is designed for anyone interested in learning more the Black experience during British involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.

The inclusion of slavery’s legacy centres on the racial inequities in our contemporary society will also be useful for heritage, third-sector, educational and media workers who wish to engage in conversations around current global racialised civil unrest and how they are linked to colonial and post-colonial processes.