Africa and the Slave Africa and the Slave TradeTrade

Chapter 20Chapter 20

Impact of Slave Trade in AfricaImpact of Slave Trade in Africa

Diaspora - any group that has been Diaspora - any group that has been dispersed outside its traditional dispersed outside its traditional homeland, especially involuntarily,, especially involuntarily,

Demographic changesDemographic changes• Depopulation due to volume of tradeDepopulation due to volume of trade

Able to recover due to “New World” cropsAble to recover due to “New World” crops

Involvement in Global economyInvolvement in Global economy State-building in AfricaState-building in Africa Increased violence (guns)Increased violence (guns)

History of Slavery in AfricaHistory of Slavery in Africa

Common in ancient worldCommon in ancient world Practiced in Africa & Muslim worldPracticed in Africa & Muslim world

• Enslavement of neighboring peoplesEnslavement of neighboring peoples• Slaves form of property & wealthSlaves form of property & wealth

Trans-Saharan tradeTrans-Saharan trade• Slaves into Islamic territoriesSlaves into Islamic territories

Increased dramatically with Atlantic Increased dramatically with Atlantic Slave TradeSlave Trade

History of SlaveryHistory of Slavery

Changes in slaveryChanges in slavery• Women and children were most Women and children were most

commonly enslaved in the Trans-commonly enslaved in the Trans-Saharan tradeSaharan trade

WHY???WHY???

• Atlantic Slave trade preferred menAtlantic Slave trade preferred men WHY???WHY??? IMPACT???IMPACT???

• Dramatic increase in volumeDramatic increase in volume WHY???WHY???

Introduction to the Slave TradeIntroduction to the Slave Trade

European trading posts along W. coastEuropean trading posts along W. coast• Forced to cooperate with African rulersForced to cooperate with African rulers

WHY???WHY??? Commercial goals combined with military Commercial goals combined with military

and missionary effortsand missionary efforts• Congo converted to ChristianityCongo converted to Christianity

Slaves became pop. trading item in Slaves became pop. trading item in Atlantic worldAtlantic world• First to Europe in small numbers, then to First to Europe in small numbers, then to

Americas in large numbersAmericas in large numbers

Organization: Atlantic Slave TradeOrganization: Atlantic Slave Trade

Eu. Forms rel. with African rulersEu. Forms rel. with African rulers• Exchange manufactured goods and guns for Exchange manufactured goods and guns for

slavesslaves Slaves sold on west coast were usually POW’sSlaves sold on west coast were usually POW’s Captives sold to Europeans in coastal marketsCaptives sold to Europeans in coastal markets

• Europeans get very wealthyEuropeans get very wealthy Up to 300% profit in some casesUp to 300% profit in some cases

• Still risky due to high mortalityStill risky due to high mortality

• African rulers use guns to expand their bordersAfrican rulers use guns to expand their borders capture more slavescapture more slaves

African KingdomsAfrican Kingdoms

Large states emerged and prospered Large states emerged and prospered near the west coast as a result of the near the west coast as a result of the Atlantic slave tradeAtlantic slave trade• States competed with each other for States competed with each other for

control of the tradecontrol of the trade Major states involvedMajor states involved

• BeninBenin• Ashanti (Asante)Ashanti (Asante)• DahomeyDahomey

BeninBenin Involved in slave Involved in slave

trade, but did not trade, but did not allow it to dominate allow it to dominate the economythe economy• Also traded textiles, Also traded textiles,

pepper, ivorypepper, ivory Existed as powerful Existed as powerful

state before European state before European influenceinfluence• At height of power At height of power

when Europeans arrivedwhen Europeans arrived• Had well developed Had well developed

culture before European culture before European arrivalarrival

Ashanti (Asante)Ashanti (Asante)

Located on Gold CoastLocated on Gold Coast• Originally 20 small states, united around 1650Originally 20 small states, united around 1650• Osei Tutu claimed title of asanteheneOsei Tutu claimed title of asantehene

• Supreme ruler (pol. and rel.)Supreme ruler (pol. and rel.)• Advised by council members from the various tribal Advised by council members from the various tribal

groupsgroups

• Took advantage of guns and used them to Took advantage of guns and used them to expand bordersexpand borders

• Remained powerful until 1820’sRemained powerful until 1820’s Controlled gold and slave trade for many Controlled gold and slave trade for many

yearsyears• Slaves large part of economy= 2/3 of tradeSlaves large part of economy= 2/3 of trade

DahomeyDahomey

More dependent upon slave tradeMore dependent upon slave trade Development of the stateDevelopment of the state

• Centered about 70 miles from coast, building Centered about 70 miles from coast, building power since 17power since 17thth century century

Involvement in slave trade:Involvement in slave trade:• 1720’s: use of guns to create autocratic state 1720’s: use of guns to create autocratic state

built upon slave tradebuilt upon slave trade Imposed their own culture on the people they Imposed their own culture on the people they

conqueredconquered

• Royal court controlled slave trade and used Royal court controlled slave trade and used military to raid neighbors for captivesmilitary to raid neighbors for captives

African CultureAfrican Culture

Europeans were often impressed with the Europeans were often impressed with the culture of the African statesculture of the African states• Creative and artisticCreative and artistic• Europeans would often commission African artEuropeans would often commission African art

Types of art:Types of art:• Weaving and basketry, metal working, Weaving and basketry, metal working,

elaborate sculptures and carvings in wood and elaborate sculptures and carvings in wood and ivoryivory

• Bodily adornmentBodily adornment

East Africa and the SudanEast Africa and the Sudan

Swahili CoastSwahili Coast• Dominated by Ottoman Empire Dominated by Ottoman Empire • Some European influenceSome European influence

Will increase over timeWill increase over time

• Slave trading centers for slaves to Muslim Slave trading centers for slaves to Muslim worldworld

Islam’s spread into the interior of Africa Islam’s spread into the interior of Africa turned violent in the 18turned violent in the 18thth century century• Reform efforts aimed at eliminating pagan Reform efforts aimed at eliminating pagan

practices and encouraging Islampractices and encouraging Islam

South AfricaSouth Africa

Less affected by slave tradeLess affected by slave trade• Lack of large states= less war and fewer Lack of large states= less war and fewer

captives to be sold into slaverycaptives to be sold into slavery Some kidnappedSome kidnapped

Europeans began to create colonies Europeans began to create colonies in Southern Africain Southern Africa• Led to conflict over landLed to conflict over land• Slowly begin to take governmental Slowly begin to take governmental

control control

The Abolition of SlaveryThe Abolition of Slavery

Slavery was major part of the world Slavery was major part of the world economy for several centurieseconomy for several centuries

In the modern period, opposition to In the modern period, opposition to slavery will riseslavery will rise• Social changes in Europe and AmericasSocial changes in Europe and Americas

Gradually, more and more nations Gradually, more and more nations abolished slaveryabolished slavery• 1888 Brazil last American nation to end slavery1888 Brazil last American nation to end slavery

Globally, slavery continues for another century before Globally, slavery continues for another century before being officially abolishedbeing officially abolished