The Conquest of Africa Africa

Europeans on the Coast The Atlantic Slave trade began in the 1500s and ended in the late 1800s. N. Africa Europeans traded for gold from the empires of Ghana and Mali and for salt from the Sahara After 1500 Europe began as trade equals, but it turned into the enslavement and forced migration of millions of Africans.

Europeans on the Coast The African slave trade ended in the 1800s Europeans wanted Africa’s natural resources By 1900, European countries had divided Africa among themselves In the 1400s, Portuguese explorers began exploring the coast of W. Africa.

Europeans on the Coast They wanted to trade directly for W. African gold and ivory, instad of dealing with N. African merchants. They also wanted to trade with Asia Portuguese used a lateen sail (a triangle-shaped sail designed in N. Africa. Lateen sail allowed ships to sail against the wind as well as with it. Astrolabe—helped sailors naivigate at sea Portuguese sailors became the first Europeans to travel south along Africa’s coasts

Europeans on the Coast 1st both Africans and Europeans traded together as equals. Africans traded gold, cotton, ivory, skins, metal objects, and pepper. Europeans traded copper, brass, and clothing. Europeans brought corn, cassava, and yams from the Americas Some Africans became Christians

Europeans on the Coast 1498—three Portuguese ships rounded the tip of Southern Africa and sailed north along Africa’s east coast The wealth of the e. African city-states amazed the Portuguese More ships followed to seize the riches of the city-states Portugal controlled trad3 on E. Africa’s coast until the 1600s

Europeans on the Coast The Dutch, French, and English soon followed the Portuguese They set up trading posts along Africa’s coasts The Dutch built a trading post on the cape of Good Hope at Africa’s southern tip Settlers arrived, moved inland, building homes and farms

The African Slave Trade Slvery was common in Africa Slaves usually won their freedom after a few years Some became important citizens among the people who had enslaved them Slaves could be bough out of slavery by their own people.

The Atlantic Slave Trade European powers began to build colonies in North and South America Practiced a new type of slavery there Europeans treated slaves like property Freedom in the future was out of the question African slave trade did not end until the 1800s The Demand for Slaves Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch settlers in the Americas needed workers for their plantations and mines

The Atlantic Slave Trade First they enslaved Native Americans, but many Native Americans became sick and died from diseases or brutal working conditions—others ran away Europeans started to import enslaved Africans They thought Africans would make good slaves Africa’s climate was similar to that of the Americas Africans were skilled farmers, miners, and metal workers. Africans did not know the territory, so it would be impossible for them to escape.

The Atlantic Slave Trade By the 1600s, Portuguese traders were trading goods for African slaves Some African groups refused to join the trade Other groups sold slaves captured during battles

The Atlantic Slave Trade The Horror of Slavery Captured Africans were branded with hot irons In slave ships captives lay side by side on filthy shelves stacked from floor to ceiling. They got little food or water on the journey across the Atlantic 20% of the slaves died during each crossing. To make up for the losses, ships’ captains packed in more people

The Atlantic Slave Trade The Effects of Slavery on Africa Some Africans grew wealthy from the slave trade The lave trade was a diaster for W. Africa The region lost more than a large number of its population to slavery Robbed f their families and their skilled workers, many African societies were torn apart.

Europeans Carve Up Africa After the slave trade ended, Europeans started to carve up Africa They wanted the resources They saw Africa as a place to build empires Africans fiercely resisted Africans cheap guns were no competition to the first automatic machine gun.

Europeans Carve Up Africa Europeans competed with each other to gain African territory 1884, leaders of several European countries met in the German city of Berlin Set rules for how European countries could claim African land 1900– European nations had colonized many parts of Africa

Europeans Carve Up Africa Not all European countries ruled their colonies the same way Belgian government directly rant the Belgian Congo (Dem. Republic of Congo now) Nigeria was run by Africans who took orders from British officials African people had little power in government.

Europeans Carve Up Africa Europeans gained power by encouraging Africans to fight each other. Europeans took the best land to farm Forced Africans to labor under terrible conditions Drew new political boundaries which divided some ethnic groups and forced differing groups together.