“ Equiano ’ s Travels ” was a narrative written during the 1800 ’ s. The 1800 ’ s were a clip extremely in the motions of imperialism and abolishment. Imperialism is “ The policy of widening a state ’ s authorization by territorial acquisition or by the constitution of economic and political hegemony over other states ” ( www.atomica.com ) . Abolition is “ The act of making off with or the province of being done off with ” ( www.atomica.com ) . An illustration of this is the abolition of bondage. In “ Equiano ’ s Travels ” there are many connexions that can be made affecting the 1800 ’ s in the clip of abolishment and imperialism.
“ Equiano ’ s Travels ” is based on a existent venture of a slave named Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa which was a name given to him by one of his Masterss. Olaudah Equiano was an African who was kidnapped from his small town in Africa at the age of eleven. He was shipped through the “ Middle Passage ” of the Atlantic Ocean, and brought to the West Indies to be sold to a Virginia plantation owner. Subsequently he was bought by a British naval Officer, Captain Pascal, as a present for his cousins in London. After about 10 old ages his life being enslaved all over the continent of North American, working with his merchandiser slave maestro and sea ’ s work forces, Equian O bought his freedom.
When Equiano had reached the age of forty-four he wrote and published his autobiography, The Life of Olaudah Equiano, Written by Himself, which he entered at Stationer ’ s Hall, located in London, in 1789. Following, after a small over two centuries, his work is accepted as one of the first works written in English by a former slave. Equally good as “ the paradigm ” of a slave narration. Equiano recalled his childhood in an Igbo small town once in northeast Nigeria. There he was embellished in the tradition of the “ greatest warriors. ” He is thought of as a alone figure in his recollection of traditional African life before the coming of the slave trade that took topographic point in Europe.
During his life, he traveled through the Americas, Turkey, and the Mediterranean. He besides was involved in a major war/battle during the Gallic and Indian War ( Seven Years ’ War ) . Besides he was involved in the northwest- transition hunt led by Phipps expedition of 1772-1773. Equiano took function in the British Abolishment Movement. As Equiano was a prima major voice in the motion, He petitioned the Queen of England in 1788. He was appointed to expedition to settle a hapless black British settlement on the west seashore of Africa. However, Equiano didn ’ t complete to his journey to his native African fatherland.
