Research
The research documents presented here explore The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano and The Travels of Sir John Mandeville. These papers share the critical role of contextual evidence in these historical events that led to their result, as well as religious and theological aspects.
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville, written between 1357 and 1371, provides Medieval Christians with an exhaustive travel log and historical, scriptural outline of locations describing what he has seen and learned. One of the most significant events to occur in ancient Jerusalem was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He begins by describing the details of the cross event from the wood He was nailed to the spices and balms used for His burial, and the importance of these materials goes on to be used in a variety of cultures for similar or different purposes. I explain how his exploration of the crucifixion creates a greater connection to this event through the use of contextual background, materials, and the memories they are attached to. While on His travels, Mandeville describes related events or people that make up the context for the crucifixion. This paper intends to gather the information Mandeville claims he saw on his journey to Jerusalem and synthesize the material to describe the death of Jesus Christ and its impact on those in first-century Jerusalem, as well as its impact it had on Medieval Christians.
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano provides more than a narrative of enslaved life. They present a journey of what it looks like to question tradition and form beliefs based on one’s experience. His narrative explores the stirring events that have taken place in his life and how they shaped his identity, perspective, and purpose. I demonstrate that looking back on his life, he was able to recognize where the lesson was in each event and how that drew him closer to God. Equiano’s encounters prompted him to ask questions about God and how his view of Christianity shaped his life both as an enslaved man and a free man. I explore three encounters that occurred during his enslavement that prompted his questions and ultimately changed his perspective, and how these encounters caused him to convert to Christianity. In doing so, I provide evidence on how his faith and business-minded skills formed his opposing view of slavery.