Chapter 1
The biological roots of the vampire
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Chapter 2
The history and science of werewolves
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Chapter 3
The colonial origins of the zombie
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Chapter 4
The deep-sea roots of ocean monsters
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The origins of monster legends
Ch 3 · The colonial origins of the zombie
renaissanceman The Original Haitian Zombie
No rest in the grave (oh, still working for the master!)
renaissanceman A powerful pufferfish neurotoxin can put humans into a death-like state.
Fun Fact
Zombie origin: The word zombie likely comes from the West African Kikongo word nzambi, meaning soul or god.
renaissanceman A Haitian man shocked his family by returning years after his burial.
Glossary
zombie (noun)
A corpse said to be revived by witchcraft, or a fictional undead creature. The myth originated among enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue, who feared eternal servitude on colonial sugar plantations.
A corpse said to be revived by witchcraft, or a fictional undead creature. The myth originated among enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue, who feared eternal servitude on colonial sugar plantations.
Quiz
What historical agricultural crop were Haitian zombies forced to harvest in folklore?
Quiz
Under which European nation's colonial rule did the Haitian slave-zombie myth develop?
Quiz
The word 'zombie' is believed to originate from which West African Kikongo word?
Quiz
Which 1968 horror film directed by George A. Romero created the modern flesh-eating zombie?
Quiz
What potent neurotoxin found in pufferfish is used in traditional Haitian zombie powders?
Quiz
Which Haitian man famously claimed in 1980 to have been turned into a real zombie?
Quiz
Which Harvard ethnobotanist traveled to Haiti in 1982 to investigate zombie chemistry?