{"product_id":"the-science-of-abolition-by-eric-herschthal-9780300236804","title":"The Science of Abolition","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the context of slavery, science is usually associated with slaveholders’ scientific justifications of racism. But \u003cem\u003eThe Science of Abolition\u003c\/em\u003e demonstrates that abolitionists were equally adept at using scientific ideas to discredit slaveholders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFocusing on antislavery scientists and black and white abolitionists in Britain and America between the 1770s and 1860s, historian Eric Herschthal shows how these activists drew upon chemistry, botany, medicine, and mechanics to portray slavery as a premodern institution bound for obsolescence. These activists contended that slavery stood in the way of scientific progress, blinded slaveholders to scientific evidence, and prevented enslavers from adopting labour-saving technologies that might eradicate enslaved labour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHistorians have recently begun to challenge the myth that slavery was premodern—backward—demonstrating slavery’s centrality to the rise of modern capitalism, science, and technology. This book demonstrates where the myth comes from in the first place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47471827386604,"sku":"9780300236804","price":77.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/f3cbe6695685bc317ddf4a0d6995475c.jpg?v=1775694230","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/the-science-of-abolition-by-eric-herschthal-9780300236804","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}