Unit Pack: A Global History of Slavery

Challenge Students to Understand the Past & Fight for Freedom in the Present

History is not over! A Global History of Slavery Unit Pack, part of The Human History Project’s Ready, Click, Teach series, provides a short program that moves beyond single narratives to show the long, complex story of human exploitation—and how students can take informed action to prevent modern-day slavery.

This comprehensive, user-friendly digital package gives you back hours of planning time. Purchase once, and you are licensed to use the pack with all of your students, year after year.

Why Choose This Unit Pack?

This unit is designed to provide a well-rounded and empathetic understanding of slavery’s global history, linking historical patterns directly to modern issues.

Deepen Historical Understanding

• Big Picture Learning: The core goal is for students to understand the global history of slavery, abolition movements, and use the lessons learned to take actions that protect people exploited in modern-day slavery.
• Three Key Global Eras: The unit includes dedicated lessons and materials for:
  • The Arab Slave Trade: Understanding the Trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean routes, the origins, and the context of slavery in the ancient and medieval world.
  • The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Analyzing the Triangle Trade, the Middle Passage, and the devastating economic and social impacts on three continents.
  • Abolition & Modern-Day Slavery: Exploring the movements that ended legal slavery and a deep dive into modern forms like Forced Labor, Human Trafficking, and Debt Bondage.
• Structural Analysis: Students will understand the economic drivers and societal structures that allowed slavery to exist across different time periods.

Cultivate 21st-Century Skills

The unit features engaging, inquiry-based activities that encourage comparison, critical thinking, and a powerful call to action.

• Historical Comparison: A "Slavery Then & Now" activity challenges students to compare historical and modern forms of exploitation to recognize patterns that can help prevent it today.
• Critical Thinking & Analysis: Worksheets include questions prompting students to analyze cause & effect, such as the impact of the slave trade on Africa and how slavery affected social/economic systems in the Islamic world.
• Real-World Connection (Supply Chains): Students will investigate the supply chain of an everyday product (like chocolate, clothes, or seafood) to determine if there are reports of forced or child labor and what consumers can do to avoid supporting modern slavery.
• Culminating Project: The unit ends with a group Project Presentation where students Create an attractive and well-organized poster to raise awareness.

What’s Included in Your Instant Download?

• Detailed Lesson Plans: A complete 5-lesson breakdown with learning objectives, new vocabulary, and recommended activities.
• Student Worksheets: Ready-to-print resources covering The Arab Slave Trade, The Transatlantic Slave Trade, Modern-Day Slavery, and a Global History of Slavery comparison worksheet.
• Learning Objectives Handout: A separate, easy-to-read list of LOs for students.
• Unit Activity Rubric: The detailed rubric for the Project Presentation (Poster) covering Content Accuracy, Required Elements, and Awareness & Call to Action.

Ready to bring depth, empathy, and urgency to this essential historical topic?

Get your A Global History of Slavery Unit Pack today and be ready to click and teach in minutes!