Africa and Africans in Africa and Africans in the Age of the the Age of the

Atlantic Slave TradeAtlantic Slave TradeChapter 20Chapter 20

Part I: The Atlantic Slave Part I: The Atlantic Slave TradeTrade

The Portuguese in AfricaThe Portuguese in Africa

►Established Established FactoriesFactories El Mina- gold trade- El Mina- gold trade-

most importantmost important Not powerful enough Not powerful enough

to impose will on to impose will on AfricansAfricans

Most forts were Most forts were established only after established only after receiving consent of receiving consent of local leaderslocal leaders

►Portuguese traded for: ivory, pepper, Portuguese traded for: ivory, pepper, animal skins and goldanimal skins and gold

►Trade= basis for contact between Trade= basis for contact between Africans and PortugueseAfricans and Portuguese

►Catholic missionaries went to Benin, Catholic missionaries went to Benin, Kongo, and other placesKongo, and other places Kongo= king Nzinga Muemba converts his Kongo= king Nzinga Muemba converts his

entire kingdomentire kingdom Enslavement of his subjects Enslavement of his subjects limits on limits on

PortuguesePortuguese

How they saw each otherHow they saw each other

►Africans viewed Portuguese as strange Africans viewed Portuguese as strange but incorporated them into their worldbut incorporated them into their world

►Portuguese saw Africans as savages Portuguese saw Africans as savages who could be civilized and convertedwho could be civilized and converted

European Colonies in AfricaEuropean Colonies in Africa

►Colonies very small, but with lots of Colonies very small, but with lots of missionary workmissionary work

►By 17By 17thth century, Dutch, French, English century, Dutch, French, English and others begin to get involvedand others begin to get involved

►By 1600, slave trade dominates all By 1600, slave trade dominates all commercecommerce

StatisticsStatistics

►Between 1450 and 1750, 12 million Between 1450 and 1750, 12 million Africans transported across AtlanticAfricans transported across Atlantic 10-20% mortality rates10-20% mortality rates 10-11 million survived10-11 million survived Rate of transport increases over timeRate of transport increases over time 80% transported between 1700s and 80% transported between 1700s and

1800s1800s

►High volume necessary due to high High volume necessary due to high mortality and low fertilitymortality and low fertility

►Rates of trade reflect changing Rates of trade reflect changing economic and political situation in the economic and political situation in the New WorldNew World

►Slave trade with Muslim world Slave trade with Muslim world continuescontinues 3 million transported between 1450 and 3 million transported between 1450 and

17501750

►Wars increase in Africa as both cause Wars increase in Africa as both cause and effect of slave tradeand effect of slave trade

DemographicsDemographics

►Trade with Muslim world tended to Trade with Muslim world tended to focus on womenfocus on women

►Atlantic slave trade tended to focus on Atlantic slave trade tended to focus on menmen

►African population reduced by half of African population reduced by half of what it would have been without slave what it would have been without slave trade by 1750trade by 1750

OrganizationOrganization

►Portuguese controlled up until 1630Portuguese controlled up until 1630►Dutch seized control of El Mina in Dutch seized control of El Mina in

1637, became major competitors1637, became major competitors►1660 English charter Royal African 1660 English charter Royal African

Company to engage in slave tradeCompany to engage in slave trade►1818thth century, France becomes a major century, France becomes a major

tradertrader

►Both Africans and Europeans involved Both Africans and Europeans involved in slave tradein slave trade

►Not any more profitable than any Not any more profitable than any other trade of its timeother trade of its time

►Part of Triangular tradePart of Triangular trade►Drew African economy into world Drew African economy into world

economyeconomy►Resulted in African economies Resulted in African economies

becoming dependent on trade with becoming dependent on trade with EuropeEurope

Part II: African Societies, Part II: African Societies, Slavery, and the Slave TradeSlavery, and the Slave Trade

►Slavery had existed in Africa prior to the Slavery had existed in Africa prior to the Atlantic Slave TradeAtlantic Slave Trade

►Usually focused on enslavement of Usually focused on enslavement of womenwomen

► Islamic forms of slavery also introducedIslamic forms of slavery also introduced►Existence of slavery helped Europeans Existence of slavery helped Europeans

mobilize commerce of slaves by tapping mobilize commerce of slaves by tapping into existing routesinto existing routes

Slaving and African PoliticsSlaving and African Politics

►Most states in western and central Most states in western and central Africa were small and unstableAfrica were small and unstable

► Increasing frequency of wars led to Increasing frequency of wars led to increasing need for improved weaponryincreasing need for improved weaponry

►Power shifted due to European coastal Power shifted due to European coastal presencepresence

► Inland kingdoms gained power by Inland kingdoms gained power by gaining guns and working as gaining guns and working as intermediaries to the Europeans in the intermediaries to the Europeans in the slave tradeslave trade

AsanteAsante

►Gained access to firearms in 1650 and Gained access to firearms in 1650 and began expandingbegan expanding

►Became the dominant power on the Became the dominant power on the gold coast up until 1820gold coast up until 1820

DahomeyDahomey

►Emerged as a power in the 1720Emerged as a power in the 1720►Used access to firearms to form an Used access to firearms to form an

autocratic stateautocratic state►Primary economic activity relied on the Primary economic activity relied on the

slave tradeslave trade►Growth of absolute rulers paralleled Growth of absolute rulers paralleled

the rise of absolutism in Europethe rise of absolutism in Europe►Like in Europe, attempts were made to Like in Europe, attempts were made to

limit royal authoritylimit royal authority

East Africa and SudanEast Africa and Sudan

►Swahili towns continue commerce in Swahili towns continue commerce in gold, ivory, and slaves with Middle gold, ivory, and slaves with Middle Eastern marketsEastern markets

►Bantu speaking people dominated the Bantu speaking people dominated the regionregion

►1818thth century saw Islamization century saw Islamization

►By the 1840, new political units were By the 1840, new political units were createdcreated

►Attempts were made to stamp out Attempts were made to stamp out paganism and illiteracypaganism and illiteracy

►Large numbers of captives from the Large numbers of captives from the religious wars were shipped down the religious wars were shipped down the coast to Europeanscoast to Europeans

►By the 19By the 19thth century slaves made up to century slaves made up to 50% op the population of this region50% op the population of this region

Part III: White Settlers and Part III: White Settlers and Africans in South AfricaAfricans in South Africa

South AfricaSouth Africa

►By 16By 16thth Century, Bantu-speakers Century, Bantu-speakers occupy southern East Africaoccupy southern East Africa Chiefdoms varied in size and powerChiefdoms varied in size and power Expansion Expansion Competition and conflict Competition and conflict

►1652- Dutch East India 1652- Dutch East India Company establishes Company establishes the Cape Colonythe Cape Colony Dutch enslave local Dutch enslave local

AfricansAfricans 1760s Dutch cross 1760s Dutch cross

Orange RiverOrange River Dutch gov’t attempts to Dutch gov’t attempts to

limit settlement and limit settlement and slavery, but failsslavery, but fails

Boers move north, Boers move north, “Great Trek” to avoid “Great Trek” to avoid gov’t regulationsgov’t regulations

Mfecane and Zulu Rise to Mfecane and Zulu Rise to PowerPower

► 1818 rule of Nguni people 1818 rule of Nguni people passes to Shakapasses to Shaka

► Shaka builds new military Shaka builds new military and political organization and political organization (Zulu)(Zulu)

► Zulu begin Mfecane in 1840sZulu begin Mfecane in 1840s► Fighting between Boers and Fighting between Boers and

ZuluZulu► 1870 Britain crushes Zulu 1870 Britain crushes Zulu

and end Zulu Wars, the and end Zulu Wars, the assert control over South assert control over South AfricaAfrica

Part IV: African DiasporaPart IV: African Diaspora

►Slave trade links Africa to World Slave trade links Africa to World EconomyEconomy

►Slavery is grueling and deadlySlavery is grueling and deadly►Middle Passage: passage to AmericasMiddle Passage: passage to Americas►Slaves worked in Plantations and MinesSlaves worked in Plantations and Mines►Hierarchy created by Slave owners to Hierarchy created by Slave owners to

prevent uprisingsprevent uprisings►People lose local African identityPeople lose local African identity

Create new family unitsCreate new family units Growth of communities of runaway Growth of communities of runaway

slavesslaves