54. Royal African Company: Slavery Inc

In this episode of Empire, Anita Anand and William Dalrymple delve into the history of slavery and its profound impact on the British economy, focusing particularly on the Royal African Company. They discuss how slavery was not only an economic driver but also a royal enterprise, contrasting it with the East India Company's more privatized form of imperialism. The hosts explore the origins of plantation slavery, the shift from white indentured labor to black African slaves, and the lack of moral questioning surrounding the practice at the time. They highlight the role of sugar in fueling the slave trade and the transformation of Barbados into a major slave plantation. The discussion also touches on the influence of figures like Charles II and the Duke of York in establishing and managing the Royal African Company, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the topic in the next episode.