Day 16 Africa / Atlantic Slave Trade Warm Up: Chant de Elegua Extra Credit: Movie: Amistad, Episode I Roots Homework:132-136 Elegua is one of the principal orishas (Gods) of Yoruba. Elegua opens communication to other gods. Every Santeria Ceremony begins with this chant. Santeria is a mix of Yoruban religion and Catholicism
West Africa Kingdom of Benin – craftsmen creating sophisticated bronze structures Head of Queen Mother (circ. 16th century) …Craftman produced sophisticated Bronze structure…probably memorialized mother of king…note chocker of gold symbolic of wealth
Mali 1200-1450 Expanded trade to Atlantic Mansa Musa (King of Kings) wealthiest ruler of his day
Trade Songhai- African Trade included Ivory, Gold, and Salt Trans Saharan trade with Muslims An Ivory head from the African Kingdom of Benin.
Causes of Atlantic Slave Trade Slavery and indentured servitude in Africa 1400’s European demand low w/ discovery demand explodes Small Pox destroys local population Inability to escape Colonial Plantations in the Caribbean used slave laborers to grow sugar cane. Freshly cut cane was crushed at windmills and then boiled to produce sugar and molasses. (Antigua and Barbados)
Trade Grew into a massive enterprise 40% in Brazil as compared to 4% in the Americas African Merchants Cooperation Triangular Trade Manufactured Goods from Europe Middle Passage (slaves) - Sugar, Rum, Cotton, Tobacco from the Americas
Inhumane Treatment Hold below Deck (20% die) Plantations, Mines or servants Auctions Cultural Resistance
Olaudah Equino “ I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I never experienced in my life; so that, with the loathsome stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat…but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables; and on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across…the windlass, while the other flogged me severely” Eyewitness: The Negro in American history
Impact Resistance and Rebellion Draining of Africa’s human assets Economic growth of region
African Influence in Caribe Religion (Santeria, Voodoo) Capueto (Brazil) Words (fulano, mengana) Influences on food and Music
Summary Questions What is the triangular trade? What is the middle passage? Why were Africans viewed as ideal laborers? Name one product for each leg of the Triangular trade?