olaudah equiano

After Columbus’ voyage to the New World in 1492, contact between three types of people—Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans—was accelerated. Each, remaining relatively isolated from the others, had established independent cultures and societal characteristics. It was almost unavoidable that when these peoples came into contact, differences in interests could arise that could in turn lead to conflict. Clashes like those along with economic and trade interests frequently led to one member of a group to be taken captive by members of another. Two examples that illustrate this are Mary Rowlandson, a white woman captured by Native Americans, and Olaudah Equiano, an African captured by white slave traders. Both had to adjust to an unfamiliar environment during their captivities, but in terms of religion, Rowlandson maintained and had her Christian beliefs reinforced during her captivity, while Equiano adopted the religious beliefs of his captors. Their experiences show how English religion and culture in particular came to dominate many others in the Atlantic World. Both Rowlandson and Equiano had their own original religions going into captivity. Rowlandson was a devout Puritan: Like many other colonists in Massachusetts, she was born in England but emigrated to the New World for the opportunity to practice her religion more freely. Furthermore, she was married to the prominent minister Joseph Rowlandson, and she had family members such as her mother who were important church members.1 These factors, in addition to the fact that Rowlandson was an adult with well over thirty years of constant Christian experience, instilled in her a deep sense of Christianity.
Equiano writes about his religion, “the natives believe there is one Creator of all things…he governs events, especially our deaths or captivity.”2 He goes on to note other characteristics of his native religion; one example is that they sacrifice and make offerings.3 This is important