Age of Exploration & Slavery in Africa:

1. Age of Exploration & Slavery in Africa: The African Slave Trade

2. Images of Slavery: Are any of these images familiar to you? Why?

3. Slavery in Africa Before European Contact • Slave Trafficking Centuries Old • West African Kingdoms • Mali & Songhai • War Spoils • Ancient Practice Nile River Valley • Egypt – Nubians • Trans-Saharan Trade • 10th Century C.E. • Type of Slavery Differentiated • Domestic • Familial • Chattel

4. Age of Exploration Imperialism Phase 1- 1400’s-1600’sPhase 2- Slavery 1700’s-1800’s • Reasons Why the Europeans Took to the Sea 1.) Capitalism began in Europe (compete for trade and services) 2.) Wanted to take over the Muslim dominated spice trade in Asia (Portugal) 3.) Muslims dominated the land trade, so Europeans looked for new sea routes (Spain) 4.) Religious Zeal- spread Christianity 5.) Adventure and Intellectual curiosity

5. HOW? • By mid 1400’s European monarchies wanted to increase 1.) authority 2.) resources • They were able to with 1.) Advancing maps 2.) Better ships 3.) Better navigational techniques 4.) Learning the Atlantic Ocean wind patterns

6. The Age of Exploration • Portugal • Created sea route east around • The Cape of Good Hope • Henry The Navigator • Vasco da Gama • Gold, Spices, Slaves • Africa • Coast of West Africa • Trading Ports • New Trade Routes • Declined because didn’t have the resources to compete with new Imperialist European countries

7. European Influence: Sugar & Slavery • Sugar Plantations • Sao Tome & Principe • W. Coast Africa • Portuguese • Established in New World • Portugal & Spain (S. Amer.) • Late 15th Century • African Slaves Preferred • European Criminals Succumbed • Tropical Diseases • Native Americans Succumbed • Diseases and Maltreatment • African Survival Rate High

8. Spain • Wanted to create a new sea route to Asia around Africa- West over the Atlantic Ocean • A Whole New World • Columbus- Caribbean, Hispanola, Cuba, Honduras, Americas (thought India) • John Cabot- New England • Pedro Cebral- South America 1500 • Amerigo Vespucci- described geography of New World

9. European Influence: Sugar & Slavery European Slave Exports (estimates) 1500’s – 275,000 1600’s – 1,000,000+ 1700’s – 6,000,000 1800’s – 2,000,000+ *6% to N. America

10. African Slave Markets • African monarchs saw slave income potential • Europeans lacked means/motivation to capture slaves • European demand increased African slave raids • Europeans Willing to create conflict between Africans • Traded for gold & manufactured European goods

11. African Slave “Castles” Description of Elmina Castle Elmina, like other West African slave fortresses, housed luxury suites for the Europeans in the upper levels. The slave dungeons below were cramped and filthy, each cell often housing as many as 200 people at a time, without enough space to even lie down. The floor of the dungeon, as result of centuries of impacted filth and human excrement, is now several inches higher than it was when it was built. Outbreaks of malaria and yellow fever were common. Staircases led directly from the governor's chambers to the women's dungeons below, making it easy for him to select personal concubines from amongst the women.

12. How did it Begin? • Europeans took Africans against their will to use as servants for the rich • They justified their actions because they were exposing Africans to Christianity • Several years after their first arrival in the Americas (Caribbean), Europeans realized they needed laborers to exploit the natural resources and brought in more African slaves

13. African Slave “Castles” “Door of No Return” El Mina Castle - Ghana “The Dungeon” El Mina Castle - Ghana

14. Triangular Trade & “The Middle Passage” • Direct route carrying slaves from Africa to The New World • Journey Could Last Several Months • Est. 15% of Slaves Died Aboard Amistad Film Clip

15. Demographic & Social Consequences in Africa • Some regions became sparsely populated • Angola, Congo River Basin, Parts of E. Africa • Men targeted more than women • Disproportionate number of women in many societies • As high as 20% to European destinations were children • Able-Bodied Men Lacking to Cultivate Land • Economy and Society Suffer as a result • European models replace traditional African economic and social structures

16. Abolitionist Movement and The End of the Slave Trade • French Enlightenment Philosophies Spread Through Europe 18th Century • Slavery deemed immoral • Slavery Deemed Inefficient Economically • Adam Smith • British led abolitionist movement • Navy Patrolled African Coast For Slave Ships • Created Freed Slave Colony (Sierra Leone) • Sugar Availability Rose Greatly Late 18th Century • Slave Uprisings Frightened Europeans • Haiti, 1791 • By 19th Century End, Slave Trade Outlawed Internationally Interactive Map Link: Abolition

17. Effects of Slavery • 1807: Britain outlawed slave trade and banned slavery in 1833 • 1865: Abolition of Slavery in U.S. with the 13th Amendment • African Diaspora: scattering of people • Brought suffering but also contributed to the spread of ideas and customs enriching cultures “Back-to-Africa” • Sierra Leone: (Freetown) Set up by British for ex-slaves • Liberia: American Colonization Society: Set up for ex-slaves from the US

18. New Imperialism1880-1914 • Imperialism: The policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries • As Europeans became industrialized, needed goods not slaves

19. Making Connections: Discuss these questions with a partner • How do you think the decline of the slave trade helped lead to European “New Imperialism” in Africa during the late 19th century? • Do you think the decline of the slave trade had an effect on missionary work in Africa? Why/How?