{"product_id":"the-shell-money-of-the-slave-trade-paperback-9780521541107","title":"The Shell Money of the Slave Trade (Paperback \/ softback) 9780521541107","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Shell Money of the Slave Trade\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA study of the role of cowrie-shell money in West African trade, particularly the slave trade.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eJan Hogendorn (Author), Marion Johnson (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521541107, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 18 September 2003\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e248 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.3 x 1.7 cm, 0.39 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThis study examines the role of cowrie-shell money in West African trade, particularly the slave trade. The shells were carried from the Maldives to the Mediterranean by Arab traders for further transport across the Sahara, and to Europe by competing Portuguese, Dutch, English and French traders for onward transport to the West African coast. In Africa they served to purchase the slaves exported to the New World, as well as other less sinister exports. Over a large part of West Africa they became the regular market currency, but were severely devalued by the importation of thousands of tons of the cheaper Zanzibar cowries. Colonial governments disliked cowries because of the inflation and encouraged their replacement by low-value coins. They disappeared almost totally, to re-appear during the depression of the 1930s, and have been found occasionally in the markets of remote frontier districts, avoiding exchange and currency control problems.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eMaps\u003cbr\u003e Tables and chart\u003cbr\u003e Preface\u003cbr\u003e Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 1. The cowrie\u003cbr\u003e 2. The Maldive Islands\u003cbr\u003e 3. The Portuguese domination\u003cbr\u003e 4. The Dutch and English enter the trade (seventeenth century)\u003cbr\u003e 5. Prosperity for the cowrie commerce (eighteenth century)\u003cbr\u003e 6. Boom and slump for the cowrie trade (nineteenth century)\u003cbr\u003e 7. Collection, transport and distribution\u003cbr\u003e 8. Cowries in Africa\u003cbr\u003e 9. The cowrie as money: transport costs, values and inflation\u003cbr\u003e 10. The last of the cowrie\u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003cbr\u003e Bibliography\u003cbr\u003e Index.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: General \u0026amp; world history [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on General \u0026amp; world history\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22General%20\u0026amp;%20world%20history%20%5BHBG%5D%22\"\u003eHBG\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45913186435352,"sku":"9780521541107","price":37.57,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521541107i_0b1eacf5-ef9e-4983-a4be-21bc6db5e5b3.jpg?v=1691369347","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-shell-money-of-the-slave-trade-paperback-9780521541107","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}