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AFRICA AND THE AFRICANS IN THE AGE OF THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADEChapter 20
GOLD WEALTH OF GHANA
Ghana – “land of gold” Soninke people Ideal for trade – between Niger and Senegal
rivers King taxes all trade Capital: Kumbi Saleh
Comprised of two walled towns
~INFLUENCE OF ISLAM Muslim merchants brought the Islamic faith
to Ghana Ghana adopted Muslim counselors,
government officials, military technology, ideas about government, written language, coinage, business methods, and styles of architecture.
Most Soninke people continue to support their traditional customs and beliefs
GHANA’S DECLINE
c. 1050 AD Almoravids – pious Muslims of N. Africa launch a campaign to spread Islam
Almoravids overwhelm and take Ghana, but cannot consistently rule Ghana across the Sahara
Kingdom of Mali expands and takes over Ghana instead
THE KINGDOM OF MALI
Mandinka people Mandinka word “Mali” means
“where the king dwells” Mansas -- kings expanded
their influence over the gold mining regions and salt supplies of Taghaza
Camel Caravan routes caused towns like Timbuktu to mushroom into great trading cities.
http://home.intekom.com/southafricanhistoryonline/pages/classroom/pages/projects/grade7/lesson5/Images/westafrica.jpg
THE MALI EMPIRE FLOURISHED IN THE 13TH CENTURY, WITH THE CITY OF TIMBUKTU ON THE BANKS OF THE NIGER RIVER AS AN INTELLECTUAL, ARTISTIC AND RELIGIOUS CENTER. (THE REPUBLIC OF
MALI).
SUNDIATAIbn Batuta said:
• Brilliant leader• Celebrated by the griots
(professional oral historians)• He divided up the world (16
clans – bear arms and carry the box and arrow; five clans – devoted to religious duties; four clans – specialists like blacksmiths and griots)
• Even though very diverse, safety and loyalty were emphasized
• Crime was severely punished
Arab traveler “Of all peoples, the
Blacks are those who most hate injustice, and their emperor pardons none who is guilty of it”
MANSA MUSA
IBN BATUTA & MARCO POLO LATE 1200’S EARLY 1300’S
http://www.sangam.org/taraki/articles/2006/images/mpibvoya.jpg
MANSA MUSA
Greatest Emperor of Mali
Expanded the empire to Atlantic Ocean and up to North Africa
25 year reign Converts to Islam and
based his system of justice on the Quran
MANSA MUSA’S GREATNESS CONT…
• 1324 AD Mansa Musa fulfilled one of the five pillars: the Hajj
• Created economic and diplomatic ties with other Muslim states along his journey
• Still did not force women to veil, women were not secluded within the home
• By 1400s Timbuktu becomes a leading center of learning, drew Muslim scholars from all over the world
• Mali falls into decline after disputes over succession arise in 1400s
http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1582406-Timbuktu_mosque-Mali.jpg
http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0100-kingdom-mali.php
A NEW EMPIRE IN SONGHAI
1450 – wealthy trading city of Gao emerged as capital of West African kingdom of Songhai
SONNI ALI Soldier king who uses
his army to create the largest state that had ever existed
Brought trade routes and wealthy cities (like Timbuktu) under his control
Chooses not to adopt Islam and follows traditional religious beliefs instead
ASKI MUHAMMAD
Expanded the territory of Songhai Improved government beauracracy As a Muslim, he made his hajj and met with
different Islamic states along the way to increase his ties to the Muslim world.
Built temples and schools to study the Quran Scholars and poets flock to Gao
INVADERS FROM THE NORTH!
1586 – succession disputes (surprise, surprise) lead to civil war
Ruler of Morocco uses an army armed with gunpowder weapons to seize gold mines
Morocco is unable to control Songhai across the Sahara, the kingdoms of West Africa end up splintered and fragmented
1591 – Songhai Empire “falls”
PRACTICE
What would a good thesis be for: Analyze the changes and continuities in Western
Africa from the rise of the kingdom of Ghana through the fall of the Songhay.
THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE Which region is first to really sink their teeth into Africa? Which country? Portuguese establish forts and trading posts along the W
African coast through the late 1400’s Trade includes
Ivory, pepper, animal skins and gold to Portuguese Slaves from other sections of the coast to African rulers
Work to interconnect and make contacts, can be hit or miss for the Portuguese
Missionary efforts to convert Benin, the Kongo, and other African kingdoms Reach Kongo (1484)
European missionaries very successful Nzinga Mvemba (r.1507-1543) converts, entire kingdom becomes
Christian Portuguese attempt to Europeanize, but eventually the enslavement of
his subjects leads Nzinga Mvemba to try to end the slave trade and limit the Portuguese
Only partly successful – Portuguese control the Kongo’s ability to communicate and trade with the outside world
EXTENDING THEIR REACH The Portuguese create
forts/posts at Mbundu, Luanda, and establish the colony of Angola
Round the cape and secure bases in Kilwa, Mombasa, and Sofala
Incentives? Commercial and military (but usually bring a strong missionary contingent too)
What next? 17th century, the Dutch, English, French and others follow suit
Portuguese movement down the coast becomes a common European pattern
Trading stations
Slave trade becomes central
Portuguese Expansion and Major African Kingdoms
BENIN BRONZEWORKS Ife artisans
(neighboring kingdom)
BENIN FOREST KINGDOM South of the savanna 1300s “Oba” – king who serves
as a political and religious leader; spreads power among other groups (Queen mother and hereditary chiefs)
Benin bronzeworks – depict warriors armed for battle, queen mother’s updo’s, and the oba himself
In this 15th c. ivory mask, the “figures on the top represent the Portuguese who had been slaving in Africa since the mid 15th century” http://
abolitionwya.org.uk/further-info/africa
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
REFOCUS ON PORTUGAL
Between 1450-1460, the number of slaves entering Portugal per year goes from 50-500
Catalyst in the Americas? sugar plantations begin
to develop
Trend Toward Expansion 1450-1850
12 million Africans sent across Atlantic 10-11 million survive
18th century Height of trade 80 percent of total trade occurs during this time
Muslim areas Trans-Saharan, Red Sea, East Africa 3 million slaves traded
Demographic Patterns Saharan trade
Mostly women Atlantic trade
Primarily young men for hard labor
Estimated that by 1850 the population of west and central was about half of what it would have been without the slave trade(1850 pop = 25 million)
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
THE PROGRESSION OF THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
Organization of the Trade Portuguese dominate
first, until ~ 1630 Dutch seize El Mina, 1630
Begin to rival Portuguese English – found the Royal
African Company, involved in slave trade from 1660s
French involved as well
Fewer than 10% of the Europeans who were stationed in Africa lived through the first year
THE ATLANTIC 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
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
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
STRING OF CITY-STATES Commercial cities rise along S. African coast Kilwa, Mogadishu, Mombassa, and Sofala From ancient times to early modern times, a continual trade area
(Phoenicians, Greek, Roman, Indian) Muslim traders set up posts in 600 and 700s
Kilwa – one of the most beautifully constructed towns in the world Blend of cultures – China, India, Arab, Bantu, SE Asia, etc Swahili – Bantu base, Arabic words, Arabic script
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
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
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
MANY PEOPLES, MANY TRADITIONS People and the Environment
Hunting and Food Gathering Khoisan people of the Kalahari desert survive by
gathering roots and herbs, hunt small gameHerding and Fishing
Raise herds of cattle in areas not plagued by the teste fly
Nomadic b/c resources are limitedSettled Farming Societies
Grow grains and root crops (yams) and tree crops (bananas)
Slash-and-burn agriculture – clear forest and brush with iron axes and hoes, burned remains and use ash as fertilizer
FAMILY PATTERNS
Nuclear Family – whole family works together as a unit
Lines of Descent MatrilinealPatrilineal
Wider TiesLineage – several families share a common
ancestor Trace back to clans
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Local polytheistic beliefs, based on natural deities Usually have one god or goddess who has
elevated status Christianity Islam
ARTISTIC AND LITERACY TRADITIONS Arts – ivory, wood, bronze
Wove dyed cloth Inscribed bowlsBracelets and neck ornaments for beautyVery symbolic, often tied to religious
ceremonies Literature
Oral and written literatureGriots – professional poets who recite
ancient stories
WHERE THE AFRICANS ARE ENSLAVED
1530 – 1650 Spanish America and Brazil – majority of slavesSpanish America and BrazilEnglish and French
Grow sugar, Caribbean, Jamaica, Barbados,
1550 – 1850 Brazil 3.5-5 millionThe Caribbean islands and sugarVirginia and the Carolinas in N. Am*Muslim traders – 3 million from trans-
Sahara, Red Sea, and E African slave trade