africa and africans in the age of the atlantic slave trade
TRANSCRIPT
Africa and Africans in the Age of the
Atlantic Slave Trade
Part I: The Atlantic Slave Trade
The Portuguese in Africa
►Established Factories El Mina- gold
trade- most important
Not powerful enough to impose will on Africans
Most forts were established only after receiving consent of local leaders
►Portuguese traded for: ivory, pepper, animal skins and gold
►Trade= basis for contact between Africans and Portuguese
►Catholic missionaries went to Benin, Kongo, and other places Kongo= king Nzinga Muemba converts his
entire kingdom Enslavement of his subjects limits on
Portuguese
How they saw each other
►Africans viewed Portuguese as strange but incorporated them into their world
►Portuguese saw Africans as savages who could be civilized and converted
European Colonies in Africa
►Colonies very small, but with lots of missionary work
►By 17th century, Dutch, French, English and others begin to get involved
►By 1600, slave trade dominates all commerce
Statistics
►Between 1450 and 1750, 12 million Africans transported across Atlantic 10-20% mortality rates 10-11 million survived Rate of transport increases over time 80% transported between 1700s and
1800s►High volume necessary due to high
mortality and low fertility
►Rates of trade reflect changing economic and political situation in the New World
►Slave trade with Muslim world continues 3 million transported between 1450 and
1750►Wars increase in Africa as both cause
and effect of slave trade
Demographics
►Trade with Muslim world tended to focus on women
►Atlantic slave trade tended to focus on men
►African population reduced by half of what it would have been without slave trade by 1750
Organization
►Portuguese controlled up until 1630►Dutch seized control of El Mina in
1637, became major competitors►1660 English charter Royal African
Company to engage in slave trade►18th century, France becomes a major
trader
►Both Africans and Europeans involved in slave trade
►Not any more profitable than any other trade of its time
►Part of Triangular trade►Drew African economy into world
economy►Resulted in African economies
becoming dependent on trade with Europe
Part II: African Societies, Slavery, and the Slave Trade
►Slavery had existed in Africa prior to the Atlantic Slave Trade
►Usually focused on enslavement of women
►Islamic forms of slavery also introduced
►Existence of slavery helped Europeans mobilize commerce of slaves by tapping into existing routes
Slaving and African Politics
►Most states in western and central Africa were small and unstable
►Increasing frequency of wars led to increasing need for improved weaponry
►Power shifted due to European coastal presence
►Inland kingdoms gained power by gaining guns and working as intermediaries to the Europeans in the slave trade
Asante
►Gained access to firearms in 1650 and began expanding
►Became the dominant power on the gold coast up until 1820
Dahomey
►Emerged as a power in the 1720►Used access to firearms to form an
autocratic state►Primary economic activity relied on the
slave trade►Growth of absolute rulers paralleled
the rise of absolutism in Europe►Like in Europe, attempts were made to
limit royal authority
East Africa and Sudan
►Swahili towns continue commerce in gold, ivory, and slaves with Middle Eastern markets
►Bantu speaking people dominated the region
►18th century saw Islamization
►By the 1840, new political units were created
►Attempts were made to stamp out paganism and illiteracy
►Large numbers of captives from the religious wars were shipped down the coast to Europeans
►By the 19th century slaves made up to 50% op the population of this region
Part III: White Settlers and Africans in South Africa
South Africa
►By 16th Century, Bantu-speakers occupy southern East Africa Chiefdoms varied in size and power Expansion Competition and conflict
►1652- Dutch East India Company establishes the Cape Colony Dutch enslave local
Africans 1760s Dutch cross
Orange River Dutch gov’t attempts to
limit settlement and slavery, but fails
Boers move north, “Great Trek” to avoid gov’t regulations
Mfecane and Zulu Rise to Power
►1818 rule of Nguni people passes to Shaka
►Shaka builds new military and political organization (Zulu)
►Zulu begin Mfecane in 1840s► Fighting between Boers and
Zulu►1870 Britain crushes Zulu
and end Zulu Wars, the assert control over South Africa
Part IV: African Diaspora
►Slave trade links Africa to World Economy
►Slavery is grueling and deadly►Middle Passage: passage to Americas►Slaves worked in Plantations and
Mines►Hierarchy created by Slave owners to
prevent uprisings►People lose local African identity
Create new family units Growth of communities of runaway slaves