Brazil enslaved Africans share Americas forced transport

~4.9 million

Enslaved Africans were taken to Brazil

Between 1501 and 1866, an estimated 4.9 million enslaved Africans were taken to Brazil—nearly 40% of all Africans forcibly transported to the Americas. They were taken mainly to work on sugar-cane plantations, in mining, and in agriculture.

Spices did not hide spoiled meat

Medieval European cooks used spices for flavor, not to cover up spoiled meat. Spices were costly and less effective at preserving food than salt, smoking, pickling, or drying. Cookbooks advised adding them near the end of cooking, too late to preserve the food.

The famous mass suicide at Masada rests largely on one ancient account

The story of Masada says that hundreds of Jewish defenders chose death rather than capture by Roman forces in 73 or 74 CE. Its main source is the historian Josephus, who was not present at the final siege. Archaeological discoveries confirm the Roman assault but do not establish that the mass suicide happened exactly as he described.

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Brazil enslaved Africans share Americas forced transport

Enslaved Africans were taken to Brazil

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