Atlantic Slave Trade: Catalyst of Modernity?

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The Atlantic slave trade was a phenomenon which was in part responsible for innovations in a number of elements of humanity. These changes were instrumental in a number of revolutions and they also induced ground-breaking changes in the ideology of mankind. This legitimisation of slavery aiding different revolutions and changing ideas may be misconstrued as the sole catalyst of the concept of modernity. However, modernity does not run on singular trajectory so it is unlikely that one catalyst would solely enable them all. One may define modernity as ‘an intellectual tendency or social perspective characterized by departure from or repudiation of traditional ideas, doctrines, and cultural values in favour of contemporary or radical values and …show more content…

These tangents alone can develop to a state of modernity but individually they do not amount to modernity. The effects of the Atlantic slave trade were a feature of modernity although it did not affect all aspects and in some case such as technology there is an argument for regression. Ideological advances particularly in the contrasting way slaves were viewed at the start and end of the Atlantic slave trade show a definite transformation towards modernity. The view of slaves as free humans and not animals was a contemporary idea which gained popularity and brought about the end of slavery. The slave trade did contribute to economic growth but the size of this contribution is questionable. Some people such as Inikori believe that the role of the slave trade was such that the British economy may have stagnated without it (Inikori cited in Waites et al, 2011 p.66). However, despite its undoubted impact to the economy there is statistical data to suggest that exports of slave manufactured commodities were minimal and that the so call ‘industrial revolution’ would have happened either

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