Time and Place: 1661: Slavery in English America (V1386)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

In 1661, the Barbados Assembly passed the first law in English North America to codify racial slavery. This law determined, for the first time, that enslaved Black people could be treated as property, or “chattel”. It was amended several times, but served as the blueprint for all other “slave codes” which were established in English American colonies.

In this module, you’ll put the 1661 Barbados slave code into context. This will help you understand why this document represents such a significant moment in the history of transatlantic and racial slavery. You’ll explore:

  • the development of ideas about race and gender in English North America
  • how racial slavery emerged and was perceived
  • the role of free people of European and African heritage in upholding the practices of slavery
  • how slavery was experienced and resisted by enslaved Africans.

You’ll consider broader questions related to histories of colonisation and empire in the early modern Atlantic world. You’ll study this history from many perspectives using a range of historical sources, including:

  • plantation and legal records
  • travel writing
  • material culture.

Teaching

52%: Lecture
48%: Seminar

Assessment

100%: Coursework (Essay)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 23 hours of contact time and about 127 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We鈥檙e planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We鈥檒l make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses: