Captivity S Collections

Captivity's Collections

Cashews from Africa’s Gold Coast, butterflies from Sierra Leone, jalap root from Veracruz, shells from Jamaica—in the eighteenth century, these specimens from faraway corners of the Atlantic were tucked away onboard inhumane British slaving vessels. Kathleen S. Murphy argues that the era’s explosion of new natural knowledge was deeply connected to the circulation of individuals, objects, and ideas through the networks of the British transatlantic slave trade. Plants, seeds, preserved animals and insects, and other specimens were gathered by British slave ship surgeons, mariners, and traders at slaving factories in West Africa, in ports where captive Africans disembarked, and near the British South Sea Company’s trading factories in Spanish America. The specimens were displayed in British museums and herbaria, depicted in published natural histories, and discussed in the halls of scientific societies. Grounded in extensive archival research on both sides of the Atlantic, Captivity’s Collections mines scientific treatises, slaving companies' records, naturalists' correspondence, and museum catalogs to recover in rich detail the scope of the slave trade’s collecting operations. The book reveals the scientific and natural historical profit derived from these activities and the crucial role of specimens gathered along the routes of the slave trade on emerging ideas in natural history.

Rev. A. J. Maas S. J Collection [3 Books]

MARTIN LUTHER Premium Collection: Theological Works, Sermons & Hymns

In the "MARTIN LUTHER Premium Collection: Theological Works, Sermons & Hymns," readers are presented with a comprehensive anthology that encapsulates the profound theological contributions and transformative sermons of Martin Luther, a pivotal figure in the Reformation. This collection showcases Luther's intricate style, which blends passionate rhetoric with rigorous theological argumentation, reflecting the tumultuous religious and political landscape of 16th-century Europe. Through accessible language, Luther elucidates critical doctrines such as justification by faith and the priesthood of all believers, making complex theological concepts approachable for contemporary readers. Martin Luther, born in 1483, grew to become a formidable theologian, monk, and reformer whose dissatisfaction with the Catholic Church spurred a revolutionary change in Christian thought. His own struggles with sin and the quest for spiritual assurance fueled his writings, marking a departure from established norms and advocating for a direct relationship between the believer and God. His hymns, like 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,' further illustrate his ability to communicate deep theological truths through creative expression. This collection is essential for readers interested in the origins of Protestant theology and the historical context of the Reformation. It invites both scholars and laypeople alike to engage with Luther's enduring legacy, offering insights that resonate with contemporary faith and practice. The blend of sermons, hymns, and theological writings will deepen your understanding of both the historical and spiritual journey that reshaped Christianity.