Landscapes of Chesapeake Slavery

The Chesapeake is often thought of as a monolithic area defined by its many waterways, extensive plantations, and the cultivation of vast amounts of tobacco by a large enslaved African and African American workforce. However, many differences exist within and between Virginia and Maryland, in the past and today. In this session, researchers from around the Chesapeake (Tidewater and Piedmont) focus on the landscapes of slavery, drawing on different methodological and theoretical perspectives to document and interpret the institution’s diversity within this region and the lives of those who were forced to live in bondage. Investigating micro and macro landscapes, topics covered in this session include resistance and self-emancipation, agricultural diversification, plantation organization and structure, consumerism and consumption practices, yard spaces and domestic life, enslaved individuals' knowledge of landscapes beyond the plantation, and self-provisioning.