Biography Novelist Barry Unsworth was born in 1930 and grew up in County Durham, in the north of England. Studied English at Manchester University and lived in France for a year where he taught English. He travelled in Greece and Turkey during the 1960s, teaching at the Universities of Istanbul and Athens. Novelist Barry Unsworth was born in 1930 and grew up in County Durham, in the north of England. Studied English at Manchester University and lived in France for a year where he taught English. He travelled in Greece and Turkey during the 1960s, teaching at the Universities of Istanbul and Athens. Research for Sugar and Rum (1988) led him to write Sacred Hunger (1992), an account of the Atlantic slave trade that moves from Liverpool to West Africa, Florida and the West Indies. It was joint winner of the Booker Prize for Fiction in Barry Unsworth lives in Umbria, Italy. He was awarded an honorary Litt.D. by Manchester University in Research for Sugar and Rum (1988) led him to write Sacred Hunger (1992), an account of the Atlantic slave trade that moves from Liverpool to West Africa, Florida and the West Indies. It was joint winner of the Booker Prize for Fiction in Barry Unsworth lives in Umbria, Italy. He was awarded an honorary Litt.D. by Manchester University in 1998.

The slave trade The policy of using Africans as slaves started in the 14th century. It had the backing of the Christian Church under the pretense of converting the heathen race to Christianity. At first they were servants for the rich but were needed for labour after the arrival of the Europeans caused a sharp decline in the local population in the Caribbean Sea. The importation of 10,000 slaves a year from Africa was introduced to make up the shortfall. The policy of using Africans as slaves started in the 14th century. It had the backing of the Christian Church under the pretense of converting the heathen race to Christianity. At first they were servants for the rich but were needed for labour after the arrival of the Europeans caused a sharp decline in the local population in the Caribbean Sea. The importation of 10,000 slaves a year from Africa was introduced to make up the shortfall. British merchants dominated the market and built coastal forts in Africa where they kept the captured Africans until the arrival of the slave-ships. The merchants obtained the slaves from African chiefs in exchange for European goods. British merchants dominated the market and built coastal forts in Africa where they kept the captured Africans until the arrival of the slave-ships. The merchants obtained the slaves from African chiefs in exchange for European goods.

The Slave Trade An estimated 15 million Africans were transported to the Americas between 1540 and To maximize their profits slave merchants carried as many slaves as was physically possible. Chained together by their hands and feet, the slaves had little room to move. It has been estimated that only about half of the slaves taken from Africa became effective workers in the Americas. By the 17th century slaves could be purchased in Africa for about $25 and sold in the Americas for about $150. After the slave-trade was declared illegal, prices went much higher. Even with a death-rate of 50 per cent, merchants could expect to make tremendous profits from the trade. An estimated 15 million Africans were transported to the Americas between 1540 and To maximize their profits slave merchants carried as many slaves as was physically possible. Chained together by their hands and feet, the slaves had little room to move. It has been estimated that only about half of the slaves taken from Africa became effective workers in the Americas. By the 17th century slaves could be purchased in Africa for about $25 and sold in the Americas for about $150. After the slave-trade was declared illegal, prices went much higher. Even with a death-rate of 50 per cent, merchants could expect to make tremendous profits from the trade.

This diagram shows how tightly packed the slaves were

Important dates The American war of Independence started The American war of Independence started 4th July Independence declared 4th July Independence declared 1783 – Peace of Versailles, official end of War of Independance 1783 – Peace of Versailles, official end of War of Independance Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law which stated that any federal marshal who did not arrest an alleged runaway slave could be fined $1,000. People suspected of being a runaway slave could be arrested without warrant and turned over to a claimant on nothing more than his sworn testimony of ownership. A suspected black slave could not ask for a jury trial nor testify on his or her behalf Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law which stated that any federal marshal who did not arrest an alleged runaway slave could be fined $1,000. People suspected of being a runaway slave could be arrested without warrant and turned over to a claimant on nothing more than his sworn testimony of ownership. A suspected black slave could not ask for a jury trial nor testify on his or her behalf.