Edible People: The Historical Consumption of Slaves and Foreigners and the Cannibalistic Trade in Human Flesh

About this book

While human cannibalism has attracted considerable notice and controversy, certain aspects of the practice have received scant attention. These include the connection between cannibalism and xenophobia: the capture and consumption of unwanted strangers. Likewise ignored is the connection to slavery: the fact that in some societies slaves and persons captured in slave raids could be, and were, killed and eaten. This book explores these largely forgotten practices and ignored connections while making explicit the links between cannibal acts, imperialist influences and the role of capitalist trading practices. These are highly important for the history of the slave trade and for understanding the colonialist history of Africa.

Details

Format

Paperback

ISBN-13

9781807580810

Publisher

Berghahn Books

Published

October 15, 2026

Pages

392

Weight

16.2 oz

Subject

Social Science