Abolition

The word abolition means to put an end to something. Abolition was the title given to the campaign to end the slave trade.

Abolitionists

Abolitionists were the people involved in the Abolition movement, who campaigned to end the slave trade.

AD

Abbreviation for Anno Domini, meaning the period since Christ was born.

Affidavit

A written statement confirmed by oath.

African-Caribbean

Caribbean person of African descent.

Afrika

Africa is sometimes spelt with a “k” instead of a “c”. This spelling reflects how it is spelt in many African languages. It also indicates an Afrocentric view point (a philosphical and theoretical perspective from an African point of view rather than a European one).

Afrocentric

Afrocentricity is a philosphical and theoretical perspective from an African point of view rather than a European one. It challenges Africa’s philosophical, economical and cultural marginalisation by the west.

Agent

An agent is a person who acts on behalf of someone else in business.

Akan

The Akan people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Ghana and the Ivory Coast, in West Africa.

Alderman

Assistant to the mayor.

Americas

The two continents of north and south America.

Amerindian

Original inhabitant of America.

Anglo-Saxon

Of the English Saxons, before the Norman Conquest (1056).

Annuity

An allowance.

Anti-abolitionist

Abolitionists were the people involved in the Abolition movement, who campaigned to end the slave trade. Anti-abolitionists were those who campaigned against them to keep the slave trade going.

Anti-slavery

This term might be used to describe a person, an action, or an idea that is against slavery.

Apprentice

A person who learns a trade by working in it for an agreed period at low wages.

Apprenticeship

Undertaken by an apprentice, who learns a trade by working in it for an agreed period at a low wage.

Asante

The Asante people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Ghana, in West Africa.

Assignment

Legal transfer.

Baule

The Baule people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Ivory Coast, in West Africa.

Bill of lading

Official record of goods being carried on a ship.

Blackmore

Blackmore or blackmoore – 18th century word for black person.

Brassware

Items made from brass.

British empire

A worldwide system of dependencies, mostly colonies, that over about three hundred years, was under the sovereignty of the King or Queen of Britain and the administration of the British government.

British territories

Land under the rule of Britain as part of the British Empire.

Bulkhead

A partition in a vessel.

Caboceers

African traders appointed to deal with European traders.

Cargo

Goods carried on a ship.

Carib

Indigenous people who inhabited the Caribbean islands and parts of the neighbouring South American coast at the time of the Europeans’ arrival.

Carnival

Festival preceding the Catholic season of Lent (period of fasting from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday). Also annual festivities which include a parade through the streets in fancy dress.

Cash crops

Crops grown in large quantities just for sale rather than for local markets.

Ceremonial items

Objects used by people in the performance of ceremonies.

Chattel slavery

A form of slavery, introduced by Europeans, in which the slave is a piece of property belonging to his or her owner and has no rights. The slave’s status is for life and their children automatically have the same status.

Colony

A settlement or settlers in a new country, which comes partially or completely under another country (often called the mother country or motherland).

Commemorate

Preserve in memory by a celebration or ceremony.

Commodity

Article of trade, especially a raw material or product as opposed to a service.

Commonwealth

A free association of sovereign states comprising Britain and a number of its former dependencies once part of the British empire. These states have chosen to maintain ties of friendship and practical cooperation with Britain and acknowledge the British monarch as the symbolic head of their association.

Conveyance

A document recording transfer of property.

Counter claim

The Emancipation Act of 1834 gave slaves their freedom. Slave owners had to claim the compensation money that was paid for each slave owned. Where the ownership of a slave was in dispute (because of debts, mortgages, complex inheritances, etc) a counter-claim was lodged by the other claimants to get their share of the compensation.

Creole

Creole culture, formed by Africans in the Americas, was a mix of the cultures and beliefs of the different ethnic groups, sometimes adding in European and Christian ideas. This culture has evolved over time and is still important throughout the African Diaspora.

Crew

People manning a ship.

Diaspora

Refers to the situation of any group of people dispersed, forcibly or voluntarily, throughout the world.

Discriminate

To treat unfavourably or favourably, especially on the basis of race or gender.

Domestic servant

Household servant.

Drum ‘n Bass

Rhythmically complex form of dance music.

Dual descent

Of mixed race.

East Indies

The islands that extend in a wide belt along both sides of the Equator between the Asian mainland to the north and west and Australia to the south.

Eastern slave trade

A trade in slaves, mainly from Africa, to the Middle East, North Africa and India. Also known as the Oriental slave trade.

Edo

The Edo people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Nigeria, in West Africa.

Efik

The Efik people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Nigeria, in West Africa.

Elite

A select group of people or class in society.

Emancipation

The freeing of slaves from slavery.

Enslaved African

African person who has been sold into slavery.

Enslaved African

African person who has been sold into slavery.

Entrepreneur

Person who undertakes a commercial venture.

Ethnic group

A group of people who share a common culture and language.

Evangelical

Of or according to the teaching of the gospel.

Export

To sell or send goods or services to another country.

façade

Face or front of a building.

Fante

The Fante people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Ghana, in West Africa.

Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal

An 18th Century Bristol newspaper.

fertility

having many children

Gaol

Jail/prison

Genocide

The planned or ordered killing of a racial or cultural group.

Ghetto

Part of a city occupied by a minority group. Also, segregated group or area.

Goal

Jail, where people are imprisoned.

Gold Coast

The name given to an area of the West African coast by early European traders who traded for gold there.

Grain Coast

The name given to an area of the West African coast by early European traders who traded for grain there.

Guinea

A place on the West African coast, sometimes referred to as the Guinea Coast. The guinea was also a gold coin, issued in 1663, named after this area of West Africa.

Guinea kettle

A type of brass pan, known as a kettle, which was made in Bristol for both the home and African markets. The trade with Africa was also known as the Guinea trade, after the Guinea area of West Africa where the Europeans traded. This explains the name given to this type of pan. They were used by West Africans for cooking and removing salt from seawater.

Guinea neptune

A type of brass pan, which was made in Bristol for both the home and African markets. The trade with Africa was also known as the Guinea trade, after the Guinea area of West Africa where the Europeans traded.This explains the name given to this type of pan.

Hausa

The Hausa people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Nigeria and Niger, in West Africa.

Hierachy

System of grades or status ranked above the other.

Hierachy

System of grades or status ranked above the other.

Hip-Hop

Sub-culture combining rap music, graffiti art and breakdancing.

Hogshead

A barrel content measuring 272 kilos.

Hull

The body of a ship in which the cargo would be placed.

Human rights

Rights held to be common to all.

Ideology

Ideas at the basis of a political or economic theory. Also refers to the thinking that characterises one part of society.

Igbo

The Igbo people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Nigeria, in West Africa.

Immigrant

A person who immigrates, or comes into a country to settle elsewhere.

Import

To bring foreign goods or services into a country.

Indentured servant

A person who has sold their labour for a set period of time.

Ivory Coast

A country on the coast of West Africa, offical name Cote d’Ivoire. European traders gave the area the name after the large amounts of ivory found there.

Lahou

The Lahou people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Ivory Coast, in West Africa.

Legacy

Something handed down by a predecessor.

Manilla

Brass bracelet-shaped objects made in Europe and used in trade with West Africa.

Manumission

A legal process in which enslaved Africans could buy their freedom or be freed by their owner.

Maroon

The word means escaped slave and comes from a Spanish word meaning mountaineers. The slaves escaped from their plantations to the mountains and formed independant communities of free people.

Masquerade

In the context of African practice, masquerade dancers are a feature of religious societies and are identified with different roles. Their performance generally involves aspects of music and theatre as well as rhythmic bodily movement.

Middle Passage

The Middle Passage is the name given to a section of the triangular trade. The organisation of the transatlantic slave trade was based on a triangular route. The Middle Passage refers to the section of the route from West Africa to the Caribbean and the Americas, in which enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean.

Migrant

A person who migrates, or moves from one place to settle in another, especially abroad.

Migrate

Move from one place and settle in another, especially abroad.

Missionary

Person sent to educate others about a religious faith.

Monopoly

An exclusive possession or control in the trade in a particular good or service.

Motherland

Refers to one’s native country. In the context of colonies, the motherland or mother country would be the colonising country.

Mullato

A term used widely in the 18th and 19th centuries to describe a person of mixed race.

Multicultural

A mixture of several cultural groups.

Muster roll

A list of all the crew on ships giving details of the position, age, and home town of each crew-member.

Negress

Female Negro. (Woman of African descent)

The language used to describe people of African descent in the 18th,19th and 20th centuries is unacceptable in today’s terms. We cannot avoid using this language in its original context. To change the words would impose 20th century attitudes on history.

Negro

Man of African descent.

The language used to describe people of African descent in the 18th,19th and 20th centuries is unacceptable in today’s terms. We cannot avoid using this language in its original context. To change the words would impose 20th century attitudes on history.

New World

Term given by the Europeans to the Americas. When they discovered the Americas, the Europeans considered them to be new lands.

Nonconformist

Dissenting protestant group or sect which does not conform to the doctrine of the Anglican Church.

Outward Passage

The Outward Passage is the name given to a section of the triangular trade. The organisation of the transatlantic slave trade was based on a triangular route. The Outward Passage refers to the section of the route from Europe to West Africa.

Overseer

Person working on a plantation who was paid a wage to oversee the enslaved Africans who worked there.

PA

Abbreviation for public address system, an electronic amplification system used as a communication system in public areas.

Philanthropy

Love of mankind. Philanthropists are people who display goodwill and make charitable gestures.

Plantation

An estate on which crops are cultivated.

Plantation Economy

Economic system based on plantations (estates where crops are cultivated).

Porcelain

Hard, fine ceramic with a transparent glaze.

Port

Town or city posessing a harbour.

Port books

Books held by port authorities documenting information about the incoming and outgoing ships.

Prehispanic

Before the arrival of Spain or Portugal who colonised many parts of South America.

Prejudice

A preconceived opinion

Privateer

Privately owned and officered warship which has been given permission from the government to act in war.

Privilege negro

An enslaved African given to a ship’s officer by the slave ship owner as a special honour, or privilege.

The language used to describe people of African descent in the 18th,19th and 20th centuries is unacceptable in today’s terms. We cannot avoid using this language in its original context. To change the words would impose 20th century attitudes on history.

Pro-slavery

This term might be used to describe a person, an action, or an idea that is in favour of slavery.

Protectorate

A state that is controlled and protected by another.

Quaker

Member of the Society of Friends, a non-conformist religious group, who prides itself on its moral and ethical outlooks.

Racism

Belief in the superiority of a particular race. Antagonism towards other races.

Rastafarianism

Rastas, or Ras Tafarians are followers of the Rastafarian (or Rasta) religion, who regard Halie Selassie of Ethiopia as God.

Raw materials

Material from which manufactured goods are made.

Rebellion

Open and organised resistance to authority.

Reggae

Caribbean style of music.

Resistance

Refusal to comply (often secretively) with the established order or authority.

Return Passage

The Return Passage is the name given to a section of the triangular trade. The organisation of the transatlantic slave trade was based on a triangular route. The Return Passage refers to the section of the route from the Caribbean and the Americas, across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.

Royal African Company

London-based trading company which had a monopoly on the early trade with Africa.

Serfdom

A system in which the serf, or labourer, was not allowed to leave the land that he or she worked on.

Settler

Person who settles abroad.

Shackles

Metal hoops and chains put round the necks, wrists and necks of (usually male) slaves to restrain them.

Ship’s chandler

Person selling hardware and fittings for boats.

Slave colony

A colony is a settlement or settlers in a new country, which comes partially or completely under another country (often called the mother country). A slave colony is one founded on the plantation system, based on the labour of enslaved Africans.

Slave labour

Work carried out by enslaved people at the profit of others.

Slave trade economy

The trade and commerce based on the transatlantic slave trade.

Slaving voyage

The long sea journeys made by slave ships.

Smelting

To extract metal from ore (solid rock or mineral) by meting it at high temperatures.

Snow

A ship used for slaving voyages.

Society of Merchant Venturers

A Bristol-based organisation, which was formed in 1552 as an elite body of merchants involved in oversees trade. The Society still exists today.

Stereotype

A person or thing seeming to conform to a widely accepted type.

Sub-Sahara

Area south of the Sahara Desert in Africa.

Subordinate

Of inferior importance or rank, secondary, subservient.

Sugar refinery

Place where sugar is refined. This process removes impurities from the raw sugar, the end result is fine white sugar.

Trading forts

Europeans used forts as bases for trading along the West African coast. They were used for temporarily housing enslaved Africans until they could be loaded onto waiting ships anchored nearby.

Trading partner

Person with whom a transaction for something is made.

Transatlantic slave trade

The trade in slaves which took place via routes between Europe and the Americas, across the Atlantic Ocean.

Triangular trade

The name often given to the transatlantic slave trade. The organisation of the trade was based on a triangular route which gives the trade this name. The three sides of the triangle are made up by the routes taken by the slave ships from Europe, to West Africa, and then to the Caribbean and Americas. These routes are known as The Outward Passage, The Middle Crossing, and The Return Passage.

Venture

A commercial undertaking, dealing with a good or asset in the hope that it will bring profit to those involved.

Voyage

A long sea journey.

Wharfage books

Documents used to administrate ports, listing incoming and outgoing goods.

Yoruba

The Yoruba people are members of an ethnic group who share a common culture and language. They are from areas of Nigeria, in West Africa.