News and Events
"Enslaved Females in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century North America: Examining the Fugitive Slave Archive" Through an examination of the fugitive slave archive and other sources, this lecture seeks to fill some of the scholarly gaps on the experiences of enslaved females of African descent in Canada. More specifically, it will offer some distinctions between the lives and experiences of enslaved females in slave minority (temperate) and slave majority (tropical) sites in the British transatlantic world.
The history of slavery undergoes a massive paradigm shift in recent times. One aspect is how Slavery and Dependency Studies reconceptualize the history of enslavement and human trafficking against the background of strong asymmetrical dependency, such as Leibeigenschaft and serfdom. Comparative perspectives have therefore gained much significance and contributed enormously to the field. At the same time, global history has reached its preliminary peak - time to bring these two strands together as oftentimes scholars do both: case studies and global history. With Paulin Ismard and Benedetta Rossi, the bpb and the BCDSS welcome two of the most outstanding scholars both in the world history of slavery and dependency and comparative history. With Stephan Conermann and Joseph Biggerstaff we will host an intergenerational roundtable, moderated by Claudia Jarzebowski. Please register by June 2, 2024, using the link below.
In the past, most iconographical studies on slavery and similar phenomena focused on specific regions, cultures and periods. The aim of this conference is to look at a broad range of dependent and marginalized social groups and ‘others’ and to compare the results of iconographical studies on different pre-modern societies (prior to 1800 CE) around the globe. Therefore, we invited scholars from a wide variety of disciplines (Near Eastern Archaeology, Egyptology, Classical Archaeology, European Art History, Asian Art History, Anthropology of the Americas) in order to gain new insights by using diachronic and cross-cultural comparisons.
In-person event. Please note that all talks are based on papers that have been pre-circulated to speakers. Please register by 15 April via Email to: events@dependency.uni-bonn.de This colloquium examines how and why segregation has been used as a tool for constructing and policing gender boundaries, at the intersection with race, age, status, class, functionality, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, nationality and other historical ideas of human identity and categorization. Segregation is the physical, cultural, or legal separation of groups on the basis of self- or external demarcations of difference and can be observed in many different human societies of the past. This colloquium discusses segregation across time and space as both a framework of control through imposing binary and as an individual coping mechanism and a strategy of subversion.
How did late Romans experience disasters and military conflicts? Many scholars argue that these events contributed to the Empire's decline. However, this presentation offers a different perspective, focusing on how disasters affected individuals and their relationships. How did disasters impact social networks and force people into new dependencies? The talk will explore these questions and suggest that outcomes for survivors were often influenced by emerging structures of dependency, such as the ransom market.
How did late antique households influence wider social organization and the Roman state? They served as microcosms of society, shaping social hierarchies and relationships. Within these spaces, residents negotiated various dynamics, including those between free and slave, parent and child, and citizen and foreigner. The vulnerability of slaves to sexual exploitation and the politics of desire significantly influenced daily interactions, impacting the social status of all involved. This paper examines these dynamics and their impact on late Roman attitudes during a transformative era often dubbed the 'Age of Anxiety.'
How did Islamic law change the status of slave mothers and their children? While granting certain protections, such as freedom upon the owner's death and inheritance rights for their children, the integration of slave women into families as sexual partners wasn't always smooth. This talk examines the implications of slave concubinage on family dynamics, as depicted in medieval Arabic literature, particularly in three erotic manuals spanning from the tenth to the early fourteenth centuries. These texts grapple with justifying and defending sexual slavery while navigating the delicate balance between satisfying desires and maintaining family harmony.
How did Jainism rise and decline in Karnataka? Originating in East India in the sixth century BCE, Jainism reached Karnataka by the second century CE. By the fifth century CE, it gained supremacy, peaking from the eighth to eleventh centuries CE. However, by the twelfth century, its influence rapidly diminished, leading to severe dependency. This presentation explores the reasons for both the rise and fall, spanning religious, social, political, and economic factors
How did an alleged sodomy case in 1648 on an English East India Company ship shape social dynamics and attitudes towards homosexuality? Examining the events and aftermath, this Lecture sheds light on relations among crewmembers, attitudes towards homosexual acts, and the company's interaction with the Mughal Empire.
How does a new digital humanities project, born from research on the voices of the enslaved in the French Atlantic world, offer insight? Set to launch in April 2024, this project delves into the testimonies permitted by French law, revealing autobiographical narratives captured in court records. Despite challenges, this archive provides invaluable glimpses into the lives and thoughts of the marginalized. By employing a digital humanities approach, we can explore both the methodological hurdles and the profound significance of these narratives. This presentation will spotlight key individuals and themes, such as Jannot (1743), Marguerite (1764), Jeanot (1764), and Babette (1765), shedding light on their struggles and their demand for recognition of their humanity.
What was the crucial and yet overlooked role that British women played in the Atlantic slave trade? While much focus has been on English men involved in the trade, this lecture reveals that women were integral to its various aspects. Drawing on diverse sources, "Women of the British Atlantic Slave Trade" demonstrates women's significant contributions, challenging the traditional narrative. If, as Eric Williams claimed, British slavery was pivotal to capitalism's rise, recognizing women's involvement unveils a more comprehensive understanding of the global economic system at play
How did court dwarfs navigate their unique social status in early modern German courts? Despite being perceived as privileged dependents, they served various roles such as entertainers, playmates, and symbols of princely status. This talk delves into aspects of their lives, exploring recruitment, legal standing, and opportunities for social advancement. Contrary to past associations with slaves and pets, a nuanced perspective emerges by analyzing their position within broader asymmetrical dependencies in early modern court societies. Adopting an intersectional approach reveals "small differences" between social groups.
How did the life and work of Johannes Manissadjian, a successful scientist during the Armenian genocide, contribute to understanding the disappearance and dispersion of indigenous lives and knowledge? Using biographical methods and archival material, this lecture will highlight the impact of mass violence on Ottoman Armenians and emphasizes the agency of genocide survivors. Additionally, it explores Manissadjian's post-genocide scientific involvement and indigenous knowledge production in the context of Adorno's 'after Auschwitz' discussions.
BCDSS PhD Researcher Anas Ansar will lead a post-screening discussion on contemporary slavery / human trafficking at the WOKI Cinema Bonn, on 11 February, 17:30h. Every year, millions of people around the world, mainly women and girls, fall victim to modern-day human trafficking. Over a period of seven long years, Helen Simon researched and listened to people whose stories had previously gone unheard. This documentary by Helen Simon, Germany 2021, will be screened in the original languages (Afrikaans, Arabic, Czech, Dari, English, German, Portuguese, Romanian, Swahili) with German subtitles. Duration: 91 minutes Please note: cinema ticket fees apply. To book tickets in advance see the Woki website below. The discussion will be held in ENGLISH.
The next reading and discussion will feature Anne Haeming, the author of 'Der gesammelte Joest: Biografie eines Ethnologen,' published by Matthes & Seitz in 2023. Join Pia Wiegmink and Jennifer Leetsch on 15 February 2024 as they query the author on the creative processes involved in writing about Wilhelm Joest, a nineteenth-century German ethnographer and traveller; the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum in Cologne traces its origins to his private collection of over 3,500 objects. Please note that this an onsite event. However, for remote attendees we are offering a Zoom streaming (with microphones disabled). See below for the link. The discussion will be held in English.
What were the intricacies of slavery in 18th and 19th-century Nepal? This talk explores slavery's typology, the role of slaves in social order, processes of enslavement/emancipation, and analyzes the Ain, the 1854 legal code, examining its incorporation of Hindu legal norms in regulating the complex slavery system.
Did the ancient Greek sex trade rely on enslaved labor? This Lecture delves into the link between sexual labor and slavery in Greek comedy and oratory, exploring it as a cyclical practice. Abundant evidence in Athens sheds light on sex laborers, covering acquisition, manumission, and integration into the enslavement system
How did the term "bracero" evolve from identifying landless peasants in the late nineteenth century to representing Mexican contract workers during World War II? This lecture delves into the contested history of the Bracero Program, analyzing its coercive operations and poor conditions through primary sources, including those from the Archivo General de la Nación and the Bracero History Archive. Examining perspectives from workers, growers, unions, public opinion, and government representatives, the discussion questions the program's impact on dependency and asymmetrical relations.
How did Roman law perceive the distinction between freedom and enslavement? While initially stark, this division was permeable, allowing individuals to transition between statuses. This talk delves into the fluidity of this line, focusing on gratitude and obligation, particularly the concept of the "ungrateful freedperson." Despite cultural assumptions that freed individuals owed perpetual gratitude to their former masters, Roman law empowered patrons to charge ingratitude, leading to various penalties, even re-enslavement. The dynamics were most apparent in marriages between freedwomen and their patrons, shedding light on Roman notions of liberty and enslavement.
*****************UPDATE: Unfortunately this lecture had to be cancelled.********************************** Can postcolonial capitalism's global development reveal a standard, and what are its political implications? Explore this with scholars like Lowe, Roediger, and Chakrabarty, and then delve into Du Bois and Fanon's insights on the interplay of colonialism, race, and capitalism. Analyze the "black radical tradition" and its impact on understanding primitive capital accumulation. Conclude by questioning how Du Bois and Fanon's racial and colonial insights resonate in contemporary metropolitan centers.
As co-organizers, we are delighted to announce an upcoming workshop that delves into the intricate theme of "Forms of Freedom during Slavery in Latin America: History, Approaches, and Archives." The workshop is a collaboration between the BCDSS and former BCDSS fellow Prof. Dr. Carolina González. This event brings together historians to share their experiences and research inquiries on the enslavement of people of African and indigenous origin in Latin America from the 17th to the 19th centuries, with a focus on various forms of freedom in different contexts. The discussion will be structured around three themes: History, Approaches, and Archives.
"One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman," Simone de Beauvoir argues in her famous book The Second Sex, published in 1949. This has come as no surprise to historians since the 1990s, as women's and gender studies have identified numerous examples that argue against historically defined, biological gender roles. In this light, we ask what historically characterized a man or a woman and how were gender identities defined, for which there are long abbreviations today? What definitions and ideas of ‘woman’ and ‘man’ were there in the first place? And: Did this broad variance in gender identities also exist in historical and transcultural comparison? The perhaps surprising answer is: Of course! You will learn more about this with the help of three illustrative contributions on Europe and Asia by researchers from the Bonn Centre for Dependency and Slavery Studies. A short series of three presentations will be held in German and English.
Join us as historian Ana Lucia Araujo discusses her latest book, 'The Gift: Exploring the Influence of Prestigious Objects in the Atlantic Slave Trade and Colonialism' in an engaging reading and discussion session. The book explores how objects of prestige contributed to cross-cultural exchanges between Africans and Europeans during the Atlantic slave trade. Drawing on a rich set of sources in French, English, and Portuguese, as well as artifacts housed in museums across Europe and the Americas, Ana Lucia Araujo illuminates how luxury objects impacted European–African relations, and how these economic, cultural, and social interactions paved the way for the European conquest and colonization of West Africa and West Central Africa.
Machtausübung geschieht in Judentum und Christentum auf vielfältige Weise, ohne dass dabei auf rohe Gewalt zurückgegriffen wird. Über Jahrhunderte hinweg haben sich in beiden Religionen Hierarchien und asymmetrische Abhängigkeiten entwickelt, die teilweise sogar als konstitutiv für jüdische und christliche Gemeinschaften angesehen werden. Dabei wurden Prozesse etabliert, um Autorität zu sichern und die Ausübung, Verteilung und Weitergabe von „sanfter“ Macht zu regeln. Bei dieser Tagung steht die Frage im Mittelpunkt, wie sich diese Formen von Autorität und Macht in unterschiedlicher Weise institutionell manifestieren, beispielsweise in Ritualen, disziplinären Systemen oder synodalen Entscheidungen. Darüber hinaus fragen wir auch danach, wie religiöse Autoritätspersonen (Lehrende, Amtsträger und - trägerinnen) die Anhänger der jeweiligen Religion auch individuell, zum Beispiel mittels Charisma, Bildung und Tradition, beeinflusst und auch manipuliert haben.
How does Augustine's Confessions reveal the often-overlooked lives of women, children, and the enslaved in fourth-century Roman Africa, shedding light on their agency amid societal constraints?
Join the book presentation and discussion with Dr. Jeroen Wijnendaele, postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Dr. Julia Hillner's project "Connecting Late Antiquities". This book delves into the significant political, social, economic, religious, and cultural changes that shaped a crucial region of the Roman world during the second quarter of the first millennium CE. Key features include its status as the first modern research volume on Late Antiquity's core region, a tight chronological focus on the transformation of Late Roman Italy, and a balanced exploration of topics like gender and environmental history. The volume reevaluates the pivotal transition in Late Antiquity, specifically the shift from the Roman Empire to autonomous kingdoms in Italy between 250 and 500 CE.
How did enslaved individuals in the Americas navigate the path to freedom? Focusing on Trujillo, Peru, this lecture contends that legal manumission alone did not guarantee freedom. Instead, it argues that enslaved individuals, particularly in 17th-century Trujillo, strategically combined debt and manumission agreements. Analyzing notarial records, the study shows how these individuals, following the examples of scholars like Kathryn Burns and others, used the public recording of debt to assert financial autonomy and reputational responsibility. Enslaved men positioned themselves as providers in patriarchal roles, while women used debt agreements to claim municipal subjectivity and honorable casta identities. This dual strategy was a conscious step toward freedom in a gendered context.
How did Mary Astell question the apparent contradiction between the freedom of all men and the perceived enslavement of all women? This lecture reexamines women's economic status in early modern Europe, probing the link between their economic position and personal freedom. It highlights gender inequalities in work tasks, employment forms, and pay levels, presenting new evidence from England and comparing it to research on Sweden and Germany. The lecture critiques two theoretical frameworks—economic choice and feminist patriarchy—arguing their insufficiency. Instead, it explores the concept of women's freedom/unfreedom, drawing on ideas from the history of slavery, Carole Pateman, and Amartya Sen for a deeper understanding of economic gender inequality roots.
Join the Facebook Live discussion and Q&A featuring the former BCDSS Bonn-Yale-Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Fellow Dr. Frank J. Cirillo and his new LSU Press book, "The Abolitionist Civil War: Immediatists and the Struggle to Transform the Union." The presentation will take place from 2–2:30pm, followed by a 10-minute Q&A.