Londa Schiebinger is a historian of science whose work delves into the intricate relationship between human societies and the natural world, particularly focusing on the historical impact of scientific discovery and exploitation. Her research often examines how scientific knowledge, especially in botany, has been shaped by and has influenced global power dynamics and colonialism. She critically analyzes the methodologies and ethical implications of past scientific endeavors, urging a reevaluation of their legacies.
Set in the 18th century, the narrative delves into the role of bioprospectors backed by European imperial powers, who returned with valuable medicines, luxuries, and staples from the New World. It examines the complex interactions between Europeans and Caribbean populations, highlighting the movement and transformation of knowledge, as well as the impact of these encounters on both cultures, ultimately leading to the triumphs and extinctions of traditional knowledge systems.
This book explores the history of drug development and testing in the eighteenth-century Atlantic World, looking especially at whether slaves were exploited in human medical experiments at the time.