Nantes slave trade memorial – level 2

Nantes slave trade memorial

03-03-2025 15:00

Nantes was once France’s biggest slave-trading port. Today, it remembers this past with a large memorial. T

he Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery shows 2,000 ship names and trade records. The city’s museum also displays plantation records, ship logs, and personal stories.

In the 18th century, Nantes deported over 500,000 enslaved people. Later, it was also part of illegal slavery. A famous painting, Marie-Séraphique, shows how captives lived on ships. Visitors can see many historical objects there.

The memorial teaches people about racism and tolerance. Some worry that people forget history. Nantes decided not to remove its past but to explain it. Through museums and public discussions, the city hopes to help people learn from history.

Difficult words: slave (a person who must work and is not free), enslaved (becoming a slave), captive (a person who cannot move or act and move freely).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.

How do the displays of ship logs, trade records, plantation records, and the painting Marie-Séraphique contribute to discussions about racism, tolerance, and the legacy of slavery in the city?

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