“Old Imperialism” and the Slave Trade It’s effect on Africa

Need for Cheap Labor Native Slave labor system failed Disease They could escape – knew the land and could hide African slaves had been bought and sold or centuries by Muslim Empires The Portuguese were the first to realize the value of the slave trade At first, wealthy Europeans sought slaves as domestic servants Planters, needing cheap labor to replace Native Slaves, saw their answer in the African Slave Trade Need for Cheap Labor

Slave Trade First slaves captured by raiding villages Eventually, began trading with local rulers for prisoners of war Horses Weapons Cloth Finished goods Lead to increased conflict throughout West and Equatorial Africa Slave Trade

Triangle Trade

Effects of the Slave Trade Human cost 10,000,000 – 12,000,000 Africans sold into slavers Countless numbers died in battles, forced marches, in transit, or resisting African Kingdoms Entire communities were devastated Many smaller tribes and societies disappeared Continuous warfare among rival kingdoms for prisoners to sell as slaves Economically dependent on European goods African Diaspora Spread of African people and culture across the globe Especially the New World Permanently changed the racial make-up of entire societies Effects of the Slave Trade

Long-Term Effects of the Slave Trade Specifically in Africa Sex-Ratio – since most slaves were male, societies left with few men Population Growth – it is estimated that the population in Africa was half of what it should have been in 1850 Political Instability – since the population had been so decimated, political power became fragmented to local tribes/rulers. Long-Term Effects of the Slave Trade Specifically in Africa

Long-Term Effects of the Slave Trade Specifically in Africa (cont.) Societal “Weakness” – Instability and population issues hindered the growth of larger political/national structures, keeping Africa relatively weak (unlike power in Europe and Muslim World) No Economic Development – As Industrialization and trade strengthened Europe and the Muslim World, Africa remained centuries behind Loss of Identity – African descendants around the world, and even in parts of Africa, lost any sense of culture and identity. This makes unity among people even more difficult Long-Term Effects of the Slave Trade Specifically in Africa (cont.)

THESE 6 EFFECTS MADE AFRICA SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUTURE EXPLOITATION Europe will change its approach to Africa in the 1880’s starting with actions in the Congo by King Leopold of Belgium Soon, all the major European Powers will return to Africa with a new mission! “New Imperialism”