Crash Course: World History — Season 1, Episode 24: The Atlantic Slave Trade: Crash Course World History #24
Talk, Documentary • 30 min • 2 seasons, 72 episodes
Episode synopsis
John Green teaches you about one of the least funny subjects in history: slavery. John investigates when and where slavery originated, how it changed over the centuries, and how Europeans and colonists in the Americas arrived at the idea that people could own other people based on skin color. Slavery has existed as long as humans have had civilization, but the Atlantic Slave Trade was the height, or depth, of dehumanizing, brutal, chattel slavery. American slavery ended less than 150 years ago. In some parts of the world, it is still going on. So how do we reconcile that with modern life? In a desperate attempt at comic relief, Boba Fett makes an appearance.
About Crash Course: World History
Crash Course World History is a video course hosted by John Green that teaches world history from growing the first crops in the First Agricultural Revolution to global textile production in the 2010s. Across the series, it builds skills in identifying and explaining historical developments, analyzing events in broader context, and tracing patterns and connections across time and place—aiming to help viewers become more informed citizens of the world. Season 1 follows the 2012 AP World History curriculum in a 42-episode chronological survey, while Season 2 continues in 30 episodes with a more thematic approach that focuses on systems and encourages viewers to question how “history” is written and what biases shape it.
More episodes from Season 1
- E1The Agricultural Revolution: Crash Course World History #1
- E2Indus Valley Civilization: Crash Course World History #2
- E3Mesopotamia: Crash Course World History #3
- E4Ancient Egypt: Crash Course World History #4
- E5The Persians & Greeks: Crash Course World History #5
- E6Buddha and Ashoka: Crash Course World History #6
- E72,000 Years of Chinese History! The Mandate of Heaven and Confucius: World History #7
- E8Alexander the Great: Crash Course World History #8
- E9The Silk Road and Ancient Trade: Crash Course World History #9
- E10The Roman Empire. Or Republic. Or...Which Was It?: Crash Course World History #10
- E11Christianity from Judaism to Constantine: Crash Course World History #11
- E12Fall of The Roman Empire...in the 15th Century: Crash Course World History #12