Africa and the Atlantic World Chapter 25

Overview: African Politics and Society Review: Bantus – migrations, stateless societies -> chiefdoms and regional kingdoms -> Trans- Saharan trade -> large kingdoms, empires, and city-states Early modern Africa: state formation continues, influenced by maritime trade Plus, with trade, increasing Islam and Christianity

The States of West Africa and East Africa: Songhay Empire 1464: Sunni Ali conquers Mali -> empire Elaborate administrative and military structures: provinces with governors, military hierarchy, imperial navy Prosperity due to Trans-Saharan trade Emperors supported Islam (schools, mosques, etc.), but most people practiced traditional religions

The States of West Africa and East Africa: Songhay Empire Decline: 1511, attached by Moroccan army with guns -> small regional kingdoms and city-states, with some larger emerging on coast due to trade with Europeans

The States of West Africa and East Africa: Songhay Empire Swahili city-states decline: fighting with Portuguese and attempted control = unsuccessful, but disruptive

The Kingdoms of Central & South Africa Increasing trade -> state-building Kingdom of Kongo: large Portuguese influence (advisors, garrisons, tailors, priests, etc.) -> kings converted Portuguese est’d colony in Angola for copper, ivory, and slaves, making alliances with local leaders => undermined king’s authority and relationship deteriorated

The Kingdoms of Central & South Africa Smaller kingdoms, made alliances with Dutch and Portuguese Dutch trading post at Cape Town, claimed land and labor of natives (Khoihol/Hottentots) 1700s, colonists arrive, further impacting natives

Islam and Christianity Increasingly popular, esp. in commercial centers  syncretic blend of Islam or Christianity and traditional African religions (exception: the Fulani = very strict form of Islam) Example: syncretic cults in Kongo based on possession of woman by St. Anthony

Social Change Changes resulting from European contact: trade goods, American crops (manioc, peanut, maize)  population growth

Atlantic Slave Trade = labor source for Euro-American plantations Bought in exchange for European goods (esp. guns) Slave trade ended in early 1800s, slavery was abolished later

Foundations of the Slave Trade Common in agricultural societies, including the Bantus Mostly POWs, criminals, outcasts Could be worked, punished, and sold by owners Mostly worked as cultivators = form of wealth

Islamic Slave Trade 8 th – 20 th centuries: increasing demand = new methods (raiding) Transported through Trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade In 15 th century: European figured out how to tap into the established system, causing it to expand

Atlantic Slave Trade Mid-1400s: Portuguese tried kidnapping, then figured out how to buy them (worked in Europe and Atlantic sugar plantations) Spanish also needed laborers in Caribbean and Mexico Then, English North American colonies Establishment of Triangular Trade and Middle Passage (horrible conditions and many deaths en route)

Social Effects: Slave Trade in Africa African societies: some were barely influenced, some benefitted, many suffered Losses of individuals (but pop. Still rose due to American crops!) Sex ratios: most were males -> constant demand (esp. in S. Am. and Caribbean were mortality rate was high) – In Africa, more women -> polygyny and some women performed male duties

Political Effects: Slave Trade in Africa More violence and wars, esp. with more guns -> captured slaves from unarmed neighboring societies -> more guns and political power

The African Diaspora = dispersal of African peoples and their descendants Jobs: urban workers, domestic servants, miners, cultivators Methods of resistance Hybrid cultural traditions Abolition of slave trade and slavery

Plantation Societies For production of cash crops, esp. sugar (later, tobacco, rice, indigo, then, cotton and coffee) Common elements: high demand product, food gardens, slave labor, racial division of labor

Plantation Societies: Regional Differences Caribbean and S.A.: pop. Couldn’t be maintained (disease, brutal conditions, lack of females/families) -> constant demand N.Am.: pop. Grew (less disease, less harsh conditions, more females/families) -> less demand

Resistance and Revolt Methods of resistance: feet-dragging, equipment sabotage, running away (=maroons communities) Slaves outnumbered Europeans and could overwhelm them: often didn’t due to fear and European military ability to put down rebellion (exception = Haiti) Overall, slaves made a huge contribution to the global economy, but only Europeans/Americans benefitted

African-American Cultural Traditions Preserved African traditions, but adapted to Euro- American culture -> distinctive cultural tradition – Creole languages developed: mixture of African and European languages – Syncretic religions developed: combined African (deities = saints, rituals, magic, spirits) and Christian elements (churches, salvation, Christian stuff) = Vodou, Santeria, etc. – Also, syncretic music, food, crafts

End of the Slave Trade and Abolition Stimulated by Enlightenment ideas and the Age of Revolution (MORAL) Became less profitable: military costs of rebellions, feet-dragging, cost of “care,” lower sugar prices, higher slave prices, new opportunities for investors (factories) (ECONOMIC) 1803: slave trade mostly ended Abolition followed (last – 1888 Brazil)