An Introduction To The History Of Bermuda

Slaves & Slaveholders in Bermuda, 1616-1782, offers a fresh perspective on the complex relationship between racism & slavery in the often overlooked second-oldest English colony in the New World. As the first blacks were brought onto the islands not specifically for slave labor, but for their expertise as pearl divers & cultivators of West Indies plants, Bermuda's racial history began to unfold much differently from that of the Caribbean islands or of the North American mainland. Bermuda's history records the arrival of the first blacks, the first English law passed to control the behavior of the "Negroes," & the creation of ninety-nine-year indentures for black & Indian servants. Slavery may have dictated & strained the relationships between whites & blacks, but in this smallest of English colonies it differed from slavery elsewhere because of the uniquely close master-slave relations created by Bermuda's size & maritime economy. At only twenty-one square miles in size, Bermuda saw slaves & slave-holders working & living closer together than in other societies. Additionally, the emphasis on maritime pursuits offered slaves a degree of autonomy & a sense of identity unequaled in other English colonies. This groundbreaking history of Bermuda's slavery reveals fewer runaways, less-violent rebellions, & relatively milder punishments for offending slaves. One anecdote recounts that in 1782, seventy black seamen offered freedom in Boston voluntarily returned to their Bermuda homes. Bernhard delves into the origins of Bermuda's slavery, its peculiar nature, & its effects on blacks & whites. She bases her study on archival research drawn from wills & inventories, laws & court cases, governors' reports & council minutes. Intended as an introduction to both the history of the islands & the rich sources for further study, this book will prove invaluable to scholars of slavery, as well as those interested in historical archaeology, anthropology, maritime history, & colonial history.

"This special issue ofPost-Medieval Archaeology, guest edited by Brent Fortenberry (Boston University) and Marley Brown III (The College of William and Mary), celebrates archaeology in Bermuda on the eve of the island's 400th anniversary. The volume presents the diverse nature of contemporary archaeological research on Bermuda, drawing together a wide array of scholars from the disciplines of archaeology, history, material culture studies, heritage and architectural history. The volume seeks to bring about a greater awareness of the island's archaeology and to explore its place within the historic and contemporary Atlantic world."

Bermuda is a British overseas territory located in the North Atlantic Ocean. It consists of a group of islands with a total land area of 20 square miles. Bermuda is known for its pink sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and a subtropical climate that is pleasant all year round. Bermuda's history is fascinating, with its first inhabitants being the Spanish, who visited the islands in the 16th century. It was later inhabited by British colonizers, who arrived in the early 17th century. Today, Bermuda is a popular tourist destination and has a thriving economy centered around its offshore financial industry, insurance companies, and tourism. Despite its small size, Bermuda has a rich culture, with its own dialect and traditions.