Africa in the Slave Trade Part 2

African Societies, Slavery, & the Slave Trade The slave trade influenced forms of servitude and the social & political development of African states African servitude varied from peasantry to chattel slavery Slavery reinforced hierarchies of various African societies Islam believed slavery was legitimate for nonbelievers, but illegal for Muslims

Slaving & African Politics European demand for slaves intensified enslavement in Africa West & Central Africa Small, fragmented states Constant warfare Military becomes important and feeds into slave trade States close to the coast become dominant & monopolize the slave trade with Europeans Leads to war and the disruption of societies as the search for slaves pushes into the interior

Asante Empire Asante located along the Gold Coast Akan people Kumasi, Hausa, & Mande – centers of trade Matrilineal clans Oyoko clan dominates in 1650 due to access to firearms Leads to centralization & expansion

Osei Tutu Asantehene (religious & civil leader) Asante becomes dominate state of the Gold Coast 2/3 of trade made up of slavery Dutch trade directly with Asante

Benin (Slave Coast) Oba limited slave trade Slavery never primary source of revenue Control trade with Europeans

Dahomey Fon Peoples King Agaja expands toward coast seizing port of Whyda Major European attraction Trade controlled by royal court Slaving state

Other developments in African states Divine right kingship Akin to European Absolutism Some states limit royal power Oyo, Yoruba people King & Council share power State bureaucracies form Artistic improvements Guilds form Specialization of crafts

East Africa & the Sudan East Coast Swahili trading towns Zanzibar Ivory, gold, & slaves to Middle East Zanzibar Cloves Used slaves for plantation work Slavery became a prominent feature

Interior Mostly Bantu speaking people Luo dynasty Nilotic migration Less influenced by Europeans Northern Savanna New Islamization Sufis Fulani Pastoral people Impacted the most by Islam