The Origins of Slavery

West Africa

Hundreds of years ago Africa was spilt into lots of different tribes not countries. The tribes people of West Africa were very clever and skilful. They crafted items out of gold, silver and brass

Source A King of Ghana 1107 He has over 200,000 warriors and is very rich. He is guarded by ten men with gold handled swords Even his dogs have collars made out gold and silver!

The Origins of Slavery 1) WAR- The tribes often fought each other in battle. Prisoners were kept as slaves. 2) Trade – the Arabs in North Africa went to West Africa to sell salt, spices & books, they returned with slaves and gold 3) Punishment – people who broke the law could be made slaves.

How were these slaves treated? Captured slaves would work for the people who caught them and were treated well. They were given food and water, clothes and shelter. Slaves owned by Arabs were treated kindly and were often kept for short periods of time. Slaves could earn back their freedom.

White People In the 1440’ white people arrived in West Africa. They captured black people and took them 1000’s of miles away to America. They worked on the plantations (huge farms). They would be sold to farmers in America.

How were slaves treated by white people? They were taken 1000’s of mile away so often could never return home. They were slaves for life. Families would be split up. They were beaten. They were not allowed to talk or write. Their conditions were poor they got little food and had poor shelter and clothing.

Activity 1. 1) Describe what you think Africa may have been like before white people arrived. Think about skills, wealth, laws, and how they would have liked. 2) Complete the table and describe what slavery was like under black people and how it changed under white people.

Olaudah Equiano Born: 1745 Location: West Africa Captured: 1755 Aged: 10 Destination: America

Capture One day my parents were out. I was alone in the house with my sister. Two men and a woman got into the house and took us away. I called for help, but was put into a sack. I could not escape. I was taken away to the coast. There was a ship waiting to take slaves.

The ship The ships crew had white skin. I had never seen a white person before. The crew pushed me about. I thought they were going to eat me! There were many other black people chained together. I was so scared I fainted.

The Crossing I was put under deck, the smell was awful. People were crying, I was flogged because I wouldn’t eat my food. I did not feel like eating. I was told that I would be sold to white people in America. The heat and smell below deck got worse, we had to use big tubs as toilets. People were ill, lots died. It was a horrifying journey. I spent some time on the deck out of chains as I was young, I was lucky.

Activity 2 1)You are going to tell the story of what it would be like to be captured and transported thousands of miles on a slave ship. 2)You will need 3 sections, the capture, the conditions on the ship and the crossing. Think about how you would feel at the 3 different points, what it would be like in the ship, your thoughts on the journey about what would happen to you. Write in as much detail as possible!