8 podcasts about slavery and the slave trade to listen to right now

In this podcast, Ryan Cronin, assistant librarian at St John’s College, explores a collection of letters and documents relating to a Jamaican sugar plantation which demonstrate just how firmly entrenched slavery was in the day to day running of 18th-century society.

James Walvin takes a closer look at the run-up to the abolition movement of the 19th century – how and when did Britain first become involved in the slave trade and what was the lure of sugar for Europeans?

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The Roman empire could be a brutal place, particularly for slaves, who, says historian Jerry Toner, once made up 30-40% of Rome’s population. In this interview, Jerry explores the lives of ancient Roman slaves, the roles they performed – from hairdressing to cooking – and how they were viewed by Roman society.

Historian and broadcaster David Olusoga discusses how and why slavery was finally abolished in the British empire, and explores the decision to compensate Britain’s slave owners – to the sum of £20 million (around £16-17 billion in today’s money).

Long after the Abolition Act of 1833, a bitter battle was being fought between British entrepreneurs and abolitionists over the use of African slaves in Cuban and Brazilian mines. Professor Chris Evans of the University of Glamorgan explores the legal loophole that allowed London-based companies to exploit slave labour in Latin America.

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Sir Francis Drake was an English naval hero, famed for circumnavigating the globe and his role in defeating the Spanish Armada. But, he was also a slave trader. Following calls for statues of Drake to be removed, historian Claire Jowitt explores this dark chapter in Tudor history.

• How was Francis Drake involved in the slave trade and why has this part of his life and career been largely overlooked?

Charlotte Hodgman is the editor of BBC History Revealed magazine