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Slavery and the Formation of the Atlantic World

Slavery and the Formation of the Atlantic World. Readings: Spodek, pps. 486-490, 494-499, 547-548, 548-550. Slavery and the Making of an Atlantic Economy. Coastal Africans so wealthy from slave trade, can keep Europeans out Do allow Europeans to establish forts along coast

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Slavery and the Formation of the Atlantic World

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  1. Slavery and the Formation of the Atlantic World Readings: Spodek, pps. 486-490, 494-499, 547-548, 548-550

  2. Slavery and the Making of an Atlantic Economy • Coastal Africans so wealthy from slave trade, can keep Europeans out • Do allow Europeans to establish forts along coast • Slaves collected at prisons in these forts for overseas voyage • Portugal, Spain, England, France, the Dutch all have forts

  3. Elmina Fort

  4. Atlantic Slave Trade 18th Century Alone: • 400,000 slaves imported into North America • 1 million slaves imported into Spanish America • More than 1 million slaves imported into the Caribbean, including the French Caribbean (Saint Domingue, Guadeloupe, Martinique) • More than 3 million slaves imported into Brazil

  5. Impact of Slavery • Europeans became very wealthy from slave trade alone • Africans became enchained • Many Africans die before arrival and many more very sick • The attitude towards slaves was worse than animals • Dead/rebellious slaves thrown overboard—slavers collect insurance

  6. Across the Ocean • Used for Agricultural Labor on plantations – sugar, rum, cotton, coffee, tobacco, indigo, cacao (chocolate) • Used also in mining (gold, silver, diamonds) • Produced 1/3 of the Value of European commerce

  7. Saint Domingue (Haiti) • Saint Domingue (Haiti) was maybe the worst • Mostly produced sugar; tobacco also important • It was cheaper to work the slaves to death and buy new ones than to take care of them • Main form of resistance: creation of maroon societies • It had heavy African influence

  8. Society in Saint Domingue • Much race mingling • Much emancipation on the death of slave owner: • Rise of free wealthy landowning Mulattos: • General George Dumas-freed slave, father of Alexandre • Wanted preservation of slavery • Wanted to be treated as equals of white planters • Whites, especially poor whites, hated them

  9. Brazil • Similar to Saint Domingue • 17th C: Main crop sugar, cashasa • 18th C: gold, diamonds • 19th C: coffee • Worked slaves to death • Early Slave revolt where the slaves refused to eat. • Many new Africans • Constant revolts--quilimbos • Much race mixing • Slavery abolished in 1888.

  10. Engenho – Site of Sugar Production

  11. Prayer of St. Francis – Bahian Chuches dedicated to Saint Francis? • Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy; • How did Portuguese Christians reconcile their religion with their treatment of slaves?

  12. Portuguese in the World Economy-Items found in 18th C Shipwreck Near Bahia

  13. United States—the South • Big crop—tobacco—”the sot weed” – later cotton • Rice – introduced by Africans • Encouraged slave breeding so there was less direct African influence-few slave imports after the 18th century • Compared to Saint Domingue and Brazil, • Slave birth rates relatively high • Slave death rates relatively low

  14. Was Slavery “Better” in the U.S.? • Extreme open antipathy to race-mixing • Anti-mescegination laws • But ….

  15. Impact of Slavery in the Americas • Ecology: • Rice introduced from Africa • Medicinal/healing plants • Economy: • Plantation economy – new crops • Language: • Pidgeon • creole

  16. Religious Impact in the Americas • Saint Domingue/Haiti: Vudon • Cuba, Spanish America: • Santeria • Brazil: • Macumba, Condomble, Islam, Catholicism (African Church – Bahia) • U.S. South: • Methodist Episcopal Church, Gospel Churches

  17. Religious Syncretism in Brazil • Creation of new hybrid beliefs joining African, Christian, and perhaps some native religion • Slaves from West Africans identified their deities (orixãs) with Christian saints • Yemaja – spirit of the seas associated with the Virgin Mary

  18. Xango – God of Thunder

  19. African Influences in the Americas • Dance: Capoeira, Samba (Brazil), Tango (Argentina), Salsa, Merengue • Music: • Reggae • Much American “folk” music • Blues • Jazz • Rock • Hip Hop • World Music

  20. Slavery and Racism • Renaissance paintings include Africans as equals. • Race became linked with color in the Americas.

  21. How Europeans justified slavery? • The Bible Curse of the “Sons of Ham,” Noah’s son – descendants to be slaves of his brothers • Economy/ Property • “Civilizing” Mission • Growing Racism

  22. Forces to end slavery • Abolitionist Movements • Slave Revolts • Quakers • Some Enlightenment Thinkers • Economically unprofitable? • Wars

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