Africa and the Slave Trade Chapter 20

Impact of Slave Trade in Africa Diaspora 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 IMPACT??? Dramatic increase in volume

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 Document from Reader 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