“Old Imperialism” and the Slave TradeIt’s affect on Africa

“Old Imperialism”

Result of European Exploration (spices and gold)

Attempting to remove control from the Arab traders and Muslim Empires

Europeans mostly established trading posts along the coasts of Africa, South Asia, and South-East Asia

Cooperated and traded with local leaders and cultures

The exception was in the New World where the Spanish, Portuguese, and English settled the land using native slave labor

Demand for goods from the New World continued to grow in Europe

Tobacco Cotton but, especially SUGAR!

“Old Imperialism”

Need for Cheap Labor

Native Slave labor system failed Disease They could escape – knew the land and could hide

African slaves had been bought and sold or centuries by Muslim Empires

The Portuguese were the first to realize the value of the slave trade

•At first, wealthy Europeans sought slaves as domestic servants

•Planters, needing cheap labor to replace Native Slaves, saw their answer in the African Slave Trade

Slave Trade

First slaves captured by raiding villagesEventually, began trading with local rulers for prisoners of war

Horses Weapons Cloth Finished goods

Lead to increased conflict throughout West and Equatorial Africa

Triangle Trade

Question…What was Triangle Trade?

Triangle Trade

“Middle Passage”

“Middle Passage”

Triangle Trade

Triangle Trade

Triangle Trade

Abolition of Slavery

Slave trade ended for multiple reasonsSocial – Europeans and Americans became more and more troubled with the enslavement of other human beings

British Abolitionists were first - William Wilberforce

Banning of Slave Trade passed by Parliament in 1807

US Abolitionist Movement/Civil War

Slave & African Resistance Armed resistance by tribes in Africa as traders moved further inland

Revolt in Saint-Dominique (Haiti) – Francois-Dominique Toussaint

Economic – Industrial Revolution decreased the need for slave labor

Abolition of Slavery

End of Slave Trade DID NOT mean an end to slavery!

1813: Argentina. 1851: Ecuador 1814: Colombia. 1854: Peru and Venezuela

1823: Chile. 1863: United States

1824: Central America 1863: Dutch colonies

1829: Mexico. 1871: Brazil 1831: Bolivia. 1873: Puerto Rico 1833: Britain. 1886: Cuba 1842: Uruguay. 1888: Brazil 1848: French and Danish colonies 1960s: Saudi Arabia and Angola

Effects of the Slave Trade

Human cost 10,000,000 – 12,000,000 Africans sold into slavers

Countless numbers died in battles, forced marches, in transit, or resisting

African Kingdoms Entire communities were devastated Many smaller tribes and societies disappeared Continuous warfare among rival kingdoms for prisoners to sell as slaves

Economically dependent on European goods

African Diaspora Spread of African people and culture across the globe

Especially the New World Permanently changed the racial make-up of entire societies

Long-Term Effects of the Slave TradeSpecifically in Africa

Sex-Ratio – since most slaves were male, societies left with few men

Population Growth – it is estimated that the population in Africa was half of what it should have been in 1850

Political Instability – since the population had been so decimated, political power became fragmented to local tribes/rulers.

Long-Term Effects of the Slave TradeSpecifically in Africa (cont.)

Societal “Weakness” – Instability and population issues hindered the growth of larger political/national structures, keeping Africa relatively weak (unlike power in Europe and Muslim World)

No Economic Development – As Industrialization and trade strengthened Europe and the Muslim World, Africa remained centuries behind

Loss of Identity – African descendants around the world, and even in parts of Africa, lost any sense of culture and identity. This makes unity among people even more difficult

“New Imperialism”

THESE 6 EFFECTS MADE AFRICA SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUTURE EXPLOITATION

Europe will change its approach to Africa in the 1880’s starting with actions in the Congo by King Leopold of Belgium

Soon, all the major European Powers will return to Africa with a new mission!