TedTest

From the Ted Talk by Anthony Hazard: The Atlantic slave trade What too few textbooks told you

Unscramble the Blue Letters

Slavery, the treatment of human beings as property, derivped of personal rights, has occurred in many forms throughout the world. But one institution stdnas out for both its global scale and its lasting lcgeay. The Atlantic slave tdrae, occurring from the late 15th to the mid 19th century and spanning three continents, forcibly brought more than 10 million Africans to the Americas. The impact it would leave affected not only these slaves and their descendants, but the economies and histories of large parts of the world. There had been cnteireus of contact between eporue and Africa via the Mediterranean. But the Atlantic slave trade began in the late 1400s with Portuguese colonies in West Africa, and sspinah settlement of the Americas shortly after. The crops gorwn in the new ceniolos, sugar cane, tobacco, and cotton, were lobar intensive, and there were not enough srleetts or indentured servants to cultivate all the new land. American ntavies were enslaved, but many died from new diseases, while others etvlfficeey riesetsd. And so to meet the miassve demand for labor, the Europeans looked to aicrfa. African slavery had existed for centuries in various forms. Some slaves were indentured servants, with a limited term and the cachne to buy one's freedom. Others were more like European serfs. In some societies, slaves could be part of a master's family, own land, and even rise to positions of power. But when white ctaapins came oerfnfig manufactured goods, weapons, and rum for slaves, African kings and merchants had little reason to hesitate. They viewed the people they sold not as fellow Africans but criminals, debtors, or prisoners of war from rival tribes. By selling them, kings enriched their own realms, and strengthened them against neighboring enemies. African kingdoms prospered from the slave trade, but meeting the European's massive dmaend created intense cpmiettioon. Slavery replaced other criminal sentences, and capturing slaves became a motivation for war, rather than its result. To defend themselves from slave raids, niboeihrgng kingdoms needed European fmriaers, which they also bought with slaves. The slave trade had become an arms race, altering societies and economies across the continent. As for the slaves themselves, they faced unimaginable bautlitry. After being marched to svlae ftors on the coast, shaved to prevent lice, and branded, they were loaded onto ships bound for the Americas. About 20% of them would never see land again. Most captains of the day were tight packers, cramming as many men as possible below deck. While the lack of sanitation caused many to die of disease, and others were thrown overboard for being sick, or as dinipicsle, the captain's ensured their profits by cutting off slave's ears as proof of puarhcse. Some captives took matters into their own hands. Many inland Africans had never seen whites before, and thought them to be cannibals, constantly taking people away and returning for more. Afraid of being eaten, or just to avoid further snfefriug, they committed sdiiuce or savertd themselves, believing that in death, their souls would return home. Those who survived were completley dehumanized, treated as mere cargo. wmoen and children were kept above deck and abused by the crew, while the men were made to perform dances in oerdr to keep them exercised and curb rebellion. What happened to those Africans who rcheead the New World and how the legacy of slavery still affects their dnndtceesas today is fairly well known. But what is not often discussed is the effect that the Atlantic slave trade had on Africa's futrue. Not only did the continent lose tens of millions of its able-bodied population, but because most of the slaves taken were men, the long-term demographic effect was even greater. When the slave trade was finally outlawed in the Americas and Europe, the aifracn kingdoms whose economies it had come to dominate clplseoad, leaving them open to csenquot and colonization. And the increased competition and influx of European weapons fueled warfare and instability that continues to this day. The Atlantic slave trade also contributed to the development of racist ideology. Most African slavery had no deeper reason than lgeal pnuismnhet or intertribal warfare, but the Europeans who preached a universal religion, and who had long ago outlawed evlnaisng fellow Christians, needed justification for a practice so obviously at odds with their ideals of equality. So they cmilaed that Africans were bgililacooly ifionerr and destined to be slaves, making great efforts to justify this theory. Thus, sleavry in Europe and the aramices acquired a racial basis, making it impossible for svales and their future descendants to attain equal status in society. In all of these ways, the antalitc slave trade was an injustice on a massive scale whose impact has continued long after its abolition.

Open Cloze

Slavery, the treatment of human beings as property, ________ of personal rights, has occurred in many forms throughout the world. But one institution ______ out for both its global scale and its lasting ______. The Atlantic slave _____, occurring from the late 15th to the mid 19th century and spanning three continents, forcibly brought more than 10 million Africans to the Americas. The impact it would leave affected not only these slaves and their descendants, but the economies and histories of large parts of the world. There had been _________ of contact between ______ and Africa via the Mediterranean. But the Atlantic slave trade began in the late 1400s with Portuguese colonies in West Africa, and _______ settlement of the Americas shortly after. The crops _____ in the new ________, sugar cane, tobacco, and cotton, were _____ intensive, and there were not enough ________ or indentured servants to cultivate all the new land. American _______ were enslaved, but many died from new diseases, while others ___________ ________. And so to meet the _______ demand for labor, the Europeans looked to ______. African slavery had existed for centuries in various forms. Some slaves were indentured servants, with a limited term and the ______ to buy one's freedom. Others were more like European serfs. In some societies, slaves could be part of a master's family, own land, and even rise to positions of power. But when white ________ came ________ manufactured goods, weapons, and rum for slaves, African kings and merchants had little reason to hesitate. They viewed the people they sold not as fellow Africans but criminals, debtors, or prisoners of war from rival tribes. By selling them, kings enriched their own realms, and strengthened them against neighboring enemies. African kingdoms prospered from the slave trade, but meeting the European's massive ______ created intense ___________. Slavery replaced other criminal sentences, and capturing slaves became a motivation for war, rather than its result. To defend themselves from slave raids, ___________ kingdoms needed European ________, which they also bought with slaves. The slave trade had become an arms race, altering societies and economies across the continent. As for the slaves themselves, they faced unimaginable _________. After being marched to _____ _____ on the coast, shaved to prevent lice, and branded, they were loaded onto ships bound for the Americas. About 20% of them would never see land again. Most captains of the day were tight packers, cramming as many men as possible below deck. While the lack of sanitation caused many to die of disease, and others were thrown overboard for being sick, or as __________, the captain's ensured their profits by cutting off slave's ears as proof of ________. Some captives took matters into their own hands. Many inland Africans had never seen whites before, and thought them to be cannibals, constantly taking people away and returning for more. Afraid of being eaten, or just to avoid further _________, they committed _______ or _______ themselves, believing that in death, their souls would return home. Those who survived were completley dehumanized, treated as mere cargo. _____ and children were kept above deck and abused by the crew, while the men were made to perform dances in _____ to keep them exercised and curb rebellion. What happened to those Africans who _______ the New World and how the legacy of slavery still affects their ___________ today is fairly well known. But what is not often discussed is the effect that the Atlantic slave trade had on Africa's ______. Not only did the continent lose tens of millions of its able-bodied population, but because most of the slaves taken were men, the long-term demographic effect was even greater. When the slave trade was finally outlawed in the Americas and Europe, the _______ kingdoms whose economies it had come to dominate _________, leaving them open to ________ and colonization. And the increased competition and influx of European weapons fueled warfare and instability that continues to this day. The Atlantic slave trade also contributed to the development of racist ideology. Most African slavery had no deeper reason than _____ __________ or intertribal warfare, but the Europeans who preached a universal religion, and who had long ago outlawed _________ fellow Christians, needed justification for a practice so obviously at odds with their ideals of equality. So they _______ that Africans were ____________ ________ and destined to be slaves, making great efforts to justify this theory. Thus, _______ in Europe and the ________ acquired a racial basis, making it impossible for ______ and their future descendants to attain equal status in society. In all of these ways, the ________ slave trade was an injustice on a massive scale whose impact has continued long after its abolition.

Solution

legal
centuries
spanish
collapsed
natives
slaves
atlantic
reached
brutality
massive
inferior
captains
suffering
chance
demand
settlers
offering
claimed
descendants
competition
resisted
stands
african
slavery
starved
biologically
conquest
africa
future
firearms
colonies
legacy
americas
grown
suicide
trade
labor
order
neighboring
women
europe
forts
effectively
punishment
slave
enslaving
deprived
discipline
purchase

Original Text

Slavery, the treatment of human beings as property, deprived of personal rights, has occurred in many forms throughout the world. But one institution stands out for both its global scale and its lasting legacy. The Atlantic slave trade, occurring from the late 15th to the mid 19th century and spanning three continents, forcibly brought more than 10 million Africans to the Americas. The impact it would leave affected not only these slaves and their descendants, but the economies and histories of large parts of the world. There had been centuries of contact between Europe and Africa via the Mediterranean. But the Atlantic slave trade began in the late 1400s with Portuguese colonies in West Africa, and Spanish settlement of the Americas shortly after. The crops grown in the new colonies, sugar cane, tobacco, and cotton, were labor intensive, and there were not enough settlers or indentured servants to cultivate all the new land. American Natives were enslaved, but many died from new diseases, while others effectively resisted. And so to meet the massive demand for labor, the Europeans looked to Africa. African slavery had existed for centuries in various forms. Some slaves were indentured servants, with a limited term and the chance to buy one's freedom. Others were more like European serfs. In some societies, slaves could be part of a master's family, own land, and even rise to positions of power. But when white captains came offering manufactured goods, weapons, and rum for slaves, African kings and merchants had little reason to hesitate. They viewed the people they sold not as fellow Africans but criminals, debtors, or prisoners of war from rival tribes. By selling them, kings enriched their own realms, and strengthened them against neighboring enemies. African kingdoms prospered from the slave trade, but meeting the European's massive demand created intense competition. Slavery replaced other criminal sentences, and capturing slaves became a motivation for war, rather than its result. To defend themselves from slave raids, neighboring kingdoms needed European firearms, which they also bought with slaves. The slave trade had become an arms race, altering societies and economies across the continent. As for the slaves themselves, they faced unimaginable brutality. After being marched to slave forts on the coast, shaved to prevent lice, and branded, they were loaded onto ships bound for the Americas. About 20% of them would never see land again. Most captains of the day were tight packers, cramming as many men as possible below deck. While the lack of sanitation caused many to die of disease, and others were thrown overboard for being sick, or as discipline, the captain's ensured their profits by cutting off slave's ears as proof of purchase. Some captives took matters into their own hands. Many inland Africans had never seen whites before, and thought them to be cannibals, constantly taking people away and returning for more. Afraid of being eaten, or just to avoid further suffering, they committed suicide or starved themselves, believing that in death, their souls would return home. Those who survived were completley dehumanized, treated as mere cargo. Women and children were kept above deck and abused by the crew, while the men were made to perform dances in order to keep them exercised and curb rebellion. What happened to those Africans who reached the New World and how the legacy of slavery still affects their descendants today is fairly well known. But what is not often discussed is the effect that the Atlantic slave trade had on Africa's future. Not only did the continent lose tens of millions of its able-bodied population, but because most of the slaves taken were men, the long-term demographic effect was even greater. When the slave trade was finally outlawed in the Americas and Europe, the African kingdoms whose economies it had come to dominate collapsed, leaving them open to conquest and colonization. And the increased competition and influx of European weapons fueled warfare and instability that continues to this day. The Atlantic slave trade also contributed to the development of racist ideology. Most African slavery had no deeper reason than legal punishment or intertribal warfare, but the Europeans who preached a universal religion, and who had long ago outlawed enslaving fellow Christians, needed justification for a practice so obviously at odds with their ideals of equality. So they claimed that Africans were biologically inferior and destined to be slaves, making great efforts to justify this theory. Thus, slavery in Europe and the Americas acquired a racial basis, making it impossible for slaves and their future descendants to attain equal status in society. In all of these ways, the Atlantic slave trade was an injustice on a massive scale whose impact has continued long after its abolition.

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations

ngrams of length 2

collocation	frequency
slave trade	6
atlantic slave	5
massive demand	2
african slavery	2
african kingdoms	2

ngrams of length 3

collocation	frequency
atlantic slave trade	4

Important Words

abolition
abused
acquired
affected
affects
afraid
africa
african
africans
altering
american
americas
arms
atlantic
attain
avoid
basis
began
beings
believing
biologically
bought
bound
branded
brought
brutality
buy
cane
cannibals
captains
captives
capturing
cargo
caused
centuries
century
chance
children
christians
claimed
coast
collapsed
colonies
colonization
committed
competition
completley
conquest
constantly
contact
continent
continents
continued
continues
contributed
cotton
cramming
created
crew
criminal
criminals
crops
cultivate
curb
cutting
dances
day
death
debtors
deck
deeper
defend
dehumanized
demand
demographic
deprived
descendants
destined
development
die
died
discipline
discussed
disease
diseases
dominate
ears
eaten
economies
effect
effectively
efforts
enemies
enriched
enslaved
enslaving
ensured
equal
equality
europe
european
europeans
exercised
existed
faced
family
fellow
finally
firearms
forcibly
forms
forts
freedom
fueled
future
global
goods
great
greater
grown
hands
happened
hesitate
histories
home
human
ideals
ideology
impact
impossible
increased
indentured
inferior
influx
injustice
inland
instability
institution
intense
intensive
intertribal
justification
justify
kingdoms
kings
labor
lack
land
large
lasting
late
leave
leaving
legacy
legal
lice
limited
loaded
long
looked
lose
making
manufactured
marched
massive
matters
mediterranean
meet
meeting
men
merchants
mere
mid
million
millions
motivation
natives
needed
neighboring
occurred
occurring
odds
offering
open
order
outlawed
overboard
packers
part
parts
people
perform
personal
population
portuguese
positions
power
practice
preached
prevent
prisoners
profits
proof
property
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purchase
race
racial
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return
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rise
rival
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scale
selling
sentences
serfs
servants
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souls
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status
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suicide
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term
theory
thought
thrown
tight
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today
trade
treated
treatment
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unimaginable
universal
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war
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ways
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west
white
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