Turbulent Centuries in Africa

• Describe how the Portuguese established footholds on Africa’s coasts.

• Analyze how European actions affected the slave trade and the rise of African states.

• Understand how European presence in Africa expanded.

Desert

Jungle

Desert

Mountains

Etc!!

High Elevation

Africa’s Geography didn’t make exploration easy!

Portugal established

Trading Posts

• Small ports to trade and get supplies.

• Forts and small numbers of people.

• No intent to stay so no strong imprint when they left!

“Slave” from the Slavic people who were taken as unpaid workers in Roman times…

• “Slaves” had been defeated foes…• Most major peoples had some form

of “slavery.”• The New World of the Americas

required workers—lots of them.• Captured Africans were an easy

source.

African rulers captured enemies and traded

them to the Europeans• For 300 years it developed into a

very profitable business.• These people slowly became

“property” and the long journey to the Americas made it impossible to escape their fate

Some African Leaders tried to stop it

• But the power of the movement was too strong to stop.

• Not even Christianity could make a difference.

King Affonso I of Kongo

The Almany of Futa Toro attempted to stop the trade across their lands. The Europeans just went around.

A New Africa Begins• Some nations disappeared• Some nations grew rich and

powerful.• Nations began to war with another

Osei Tutu unifies the Asante Kingdom.

The Africans became forces to be dealt with…

• Osei Tutu claimed divine “right” and that the people had a spiritual link.

• Promoted people on merit• Supervised an effective bureaucracy.• Government controlled mining and

the slave trade.• He played the Europeans against one

another to benefit the country!

The Oyo Empire also grew rich from the slave trade with Europeans

The Oyo became very

powerful militarily.

(which added to their slaves to

sell.)

The Europeans Expand in Africa

• The Dutch settle Cape Town• The Boers saw themselves as “chosen

ones” (Calvinists) so saw the native Africans as inferior.

• Superior military power overcame the natives.

• The French settled along the Gold Coast.• The British began to look “into” Africa (for

the source of the Nile) and exploration would begin…

Portuguese expel Arabs and take over E Africa Trade Network

Europeans rely on African rulers and traders to seize captives and bring them to trading posts and forts.Some African leaders, such as Affonso I try to stop the slave trade.

Oyo empire arises from successive waves of settlement by Yoruba people.