The Atlantic World

1. The Atlantic World 1492 - 1800

2. The Atlantic Slave Trade Section 3

3. The Evolution of African Slavery • Around 1500, European colonists began enslaving Africans in the Americas to meet great demand for large numbers of people to work as cheap labor • When Atlantic slave trade ended around 1870, Europeans imported about 9.5 million Africans to the Americas

4. Slavery in Africa • Started the same as other continents • Mostly prisoners of war & criminals

5. The Desire for Africans • Colonization of Americas • Forced Native Americans to work mines & plantations • Natives kept dying from disease • Africans • Already built immunity to European disease • Stronger • Experience in farming • Stranger to America • Less likely to escape • Atlantic Slave Trade began from West Africa to the Americas

6. African Cooperation & Resistance • African rulers & merchants played a willing role in Atlantic slave trade • In exchange for gold, guns, & other goods (manufactured goods) • African slaves kept to their cultural heritage • Music & stories • Less productive • By breaking equipment • Uprooting plants • Working slowly • Ran away • Revolts • 1522 – 20 slaves killed several Spanish colonists on Hispaniola • Several other revolts happened elsewhere, too

7. A Forced Journey • Triangular Trade • Slaves from Africa to Americas • Known as Middle Passage • Raw materials from Americas to Europe • Manufactured goods from Europe to Africa • Slavery in the Americas • Hereditary • lifelong

9. Middle Passage “I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I never experienced in my life; so that, with the loathsomeness of the stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat….but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables; and on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across……the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely.” -OlaudahEquiano Quoted in Eyewitness: The Negro in American History • Taking Africans to Americas across Atlantic • Many died on the way (20%) • Packed Africans into dark holds of large ships

10. Middle Passage

11. Consequences of the Atlantic Slave Trade • Africa • Numerous cultures lost generations • Families torn apart & never reunited • Introduced guns into the continent • Spread war & conflict throughout Africa • Americas • Contributed greatly to the economic & cultural development of Americas • Brought expertise in agriculture • New culture • Art • Music • Food

12. The Columbian Exchange & Global Trade Section 4

13. Colonization of the Americas • Prompted migration of millions of people • Voluntary • Forced

14. The Columbian Exchange • Global transfer of foods, plants, & animals during the colonization of the Americas • Ships from the Americas • Corn, potatoes, tomatoes, squash, pineapples, tobacco, & cacao beans • Ships from East (Europe, Asia, & Africa) • Horses, cattle, pigs, bananas, black-eyed peas, yams, & disease (smallpox & measles)

16. A Commercial Revolution • Expansion of trade & business that transformed European economies during the 16th and 17th centuries • Rise of capitalism • Economic system based on private ownership & the investment of wealth for profit • Merchants & traders become wealthy, not just governments

17. Joint-Stock Companies • Early day corporations • A group of people invest wealth for American colonization • So, you only lose a small amount if it goes wrong • Or, you share the profits

18. Mercantilism • Obtain as much gold & silver as possible • Set up a favorable balance of trade • Sold more goods than bought