Africa and the Slave Trade

Africa and the Slave Trade Chapter 20

Impact of Slave Trade in Africa • Diaspora - any group that has been dispersed outside its traditional homeland, especially involuntarily, • Demographic changes • Depopulation due to volume of trade • Able to recover due to “New World” crops • Involvement in Global economy • State-building in Africa • Increased violence (guns)

History of Slavery in Africa • Common in ancient world • Practiced in Africa & Muslim world • Enslavement of neighboring peoples • Slaves form of property & wealth • Trans-Saharan trade • Slaves into Islamic territories • Increased dramatically with Atlantic Slave Trade

History of Slavery • Changes in slavery • Women and children were most commonly enslaved in the Trans-Saharan trade • WHY??? • Atlantic Slave trade preferred men • WHY??? • IMPACT??? • Dramatic increase in volume • WHY???

Introduction to the Slave Trade • European trading posts along W. coast • Forced to cooperate with African rulers • WHY??? • Commercial goals combined with military and missionary efforts • Congo converted to Christianity • Slaves became pop. trading item in Atlantic world • First to Europe in small numbers, then to Americas in large numbers

Organization: Atlantic Slave Trade • Eu. Forms rel. with African rulers • Exchange manufactured goods and guns for slaves • Slaves sold on west coast were usually POW’s • Captives sold to Europeans in coastal markets • Europeans get very wealthy • Up to 300% profit in some cases • Still risky due to high mortality • African rulers use guns to expand their borders • capture more slaves

African Kingdoms • Large states emerged and prospered near the west coast as a result of the Atlantic slave trade • States competed with each other for control of the trade • Major states involved • Benin • Ashanti (Asante) • Dahomey

Benin • Involved in slave trade, but did not allow it to dominate the economy • Also traded textiles, pepper, ivory • Existed as powerful state before European influence • At height of power when Europeans arrived • Had well developed culture before European arrival

Ashanti (Asante) • Located on Gold Coast • Originally 20 small states, united around 1650 • Osei Tutu claimed title of asantehene • Supreme ruler (pol. and rel.) • Advised by council members from the various tribal groups • Took advantage of guns and used them to expand borders • Remained powerful until 1820’s • Controlled gold and slave trade for many years • Slaves large part of economy= 2/3 of trade

Dahomey • More dependent upon slave trade • Development of the state • Centered about 70 miles from coast, building power since 17th century • Involvement in slave trade: • 1720’s: use of guns to create autocratic state built upon slave trade • Imposed their own culture on the people they conquered • Royal court controlled slave trade and used military to raid neighbors for captives

African Culture • Europeans were often impressed with the culture of the African states • Creative and artistic • Europeans would often commission African art • Types of art: • Weaving and basketry, metal working, elaborate sculptures and carvings in wood and ivory • Bodily adornment

East Africa and the Sudan • Swahili Coast • Dominated by Ottoman Empire • Some European influence • Will increase over time • Slave trading centers for slaves to Muslim world • Islam’s spread into the interior of Africa turned violent in the 18th century • Reform efforts aimed at eliminating pagan practices and encouraging Islam

South Africa • Less affected by slave trade • Lack of large states= less war and fewer captives to be sold into slavery • Some kidnapped • Europeans began to create colonies in Southern Africa • Led to conflict over land • Slowly begin to take governmental control

The Abolition of Slavery • Slavery was major part of the world economy for several centuries • In the modern period, opposition to slavery will rise • Social changes in Europe and Americas • Gradually, more and more nations abolished slavery • 1888 Brazil last American nation to end slavery • Globally, slavery continues for another century before being officially abolished

Africa and the Slave Trade