Essays on geography and diseases

This dissertation explores how diseases contributed to shape historical institutions and how health and diseases are still affecting modern comparative development. The overarching goal of this investigation is to identify the channels linking geographic suitability to diseases and the emergence of historical and modern insitutions, while tackling the endogenenity problems that traditionally undermine this literature. I attempt to do so by taking advantage of the vast amount of newly available historical data and of the richness of data accessible through the geographic information system (GIS). The first chapter of my thesis, 'Side Effects of Immunities: The African Slave Trade', proposes and test a novel explanation for the origins of slavery in the tropical regions of the Americas. I argue that Africans were especially attractive for employment in tropical areas because they were immune to many of the diseases that were ravaging those regions. In particular, Africans' resistance to malaria increased the profitability of slaves coming from the most malarial parts of Africa. In the second chapter of my thesis, 'Caste Systems and Technology in Pre-Modern Societies', I advance and test the hypothesis that caste systems, generally viewed as a hindrance to social mobility and development, had been comparatively advantageous at an early stage of economic development. In the third chapter, 'Malaria as Determinant of Modern Ethnolinguistic Diversity', I conjecture that in highly malarious areas the necessity to adapt and develop immunities specific to the local disease environment historically reduced mobility and increased isolation, thus leading to the formation of a higher number of different ethnolinguistic groups. In the final chapter, 'Malaria Risk and Civil Violence: A Disaggregated Analysis for Africa', I explore the relationship between malaria and violent conflicts. Using georeferenced data for Africa, the article shows that violent events are more frequent in areas where malaria risk is higher.

Manuscript on United States relations with England and France,

Untitled and undated manuscript written by Tudor offering his opinions on political and commercial relations between the United States, England, and France, and the causes of American animosity toward those countries. Topics and events referenced include the slave trade, Napoleon, and the Little Belt Affair. Introduction and parts one through three.

William Blair Townsend letter and receipt books, 1743-1805, bulk 1744-1777

The collection consists of two volumes, which date from 1743 to 1805, spanning his whole career as a merchant. Volume one is a letter book containing Townsend's business correspondence from November 23, 1743 to December 12, 1774. Most of the letters were written to American (many in North Carolina) and British (predominately in London) merchants. His earliest letters document his efforts to establish himself as a trader. Over time his letters turn to illustrate the common problems faced by many merchants: damaged goods, overpriced goods, embargos, and high freight costs. Particularly enlightening are his comments on the challenges of doing business throughout the French and Indian War and the years leading up to the American Revolution. He most frequently corresponded with London merchants Champion & Hayley, Lane & Booth, Lane Son & Fraser, Harrison & Ansley, and Leeds merchant Samuel Elam. In addition he frequently corresponded with Eliakim Palmer, colonial agent and merchant in London, as well as Dr. Walley Chauncy of North Carolina. He dealt in a wide variety of goods including molasses, rum, tar, medicines, pitch, saddles, tallow, hides, skins, pickled beef and pork, and wine. The letters also document Townsend's involvement in the slave trade through his occasional purchases of slaves.

La traite négrière aux Indes de Castile, contrats et traités d'assiento; étude de droit public et d'histoire diplomatique puisée aux sources originales et accompagnée de plusierus documents inédits,

"Documents et piéces justificatives": v. 1, p. [753]-840; v. 2, p. [685]-712.

Extincção do trafico de escravos no Brazil : ensaio historico /

Originally published: Jornal do commercio, May 13-14, 1916.

Några ord om slafhandeln och slafveriet, tillegnade svenska folket.

Page 19 incorrectly numbered 20.

The ... annual report of the Aberdeen Anti-Slavery Society for promoting the mitigation and ultimate abolition of Negro slavery.

"With an account of the proceedings of the meeting, etc."

Essays contributed to the Quarterly review /

Microfiche. Louisville, Ky. : Lost Cause Press, 1979. -- 10 sheets ; 11 x 15 cm.

Histoire de l'esclavage en Afrique : (pendant trente-quartre ans) /

Mode of access: Internet.

Thoughts and sentiments on the evil and wicked traffic of the slavery and commerce of the human species : humbly submitted to the inhabitants of Great Britain /

Mode of access: Internet.

Kidnapping in the South seas.

Mode of access: Internet.

Ismailǐa; récit d'une expédition dans l'Afrique Centrale pour l'abolition de la traite des noirs,

Mode of access: Internet.

Tropical Africa,

Mode of access: Internet.

The Upper Guinea Coast in Global Perspective /

For centuries, Africa’s Upper Guinea Coast region has been the site of regional and global interactions, with societies from different parts of the world engaging in economic trade, cultural exchange, and conflict. This book examines how such encounters have continued into the present day. This title was made Open Access by libraries from around the world through Knowledge Unlatched.

Records of a voyage to the western coast of Africa in His Majesty's ship Dryad, during the years 1830, 1831, and 1832 / by Peter Leonard.

"List of vessels engaged in the slave trade captured by the British Squadron employed on the western coast of Africa, in the year 1829": p. [268-271]