Africa and the Africans: Age of Atlantic Slave Trade Ch 20

I. Introduction Slavery was a common practice throughout ancient times into the modern era. Slaves consisted of people from conquered territories or POWs Slavery was also result of debt Slavery in Africa Between rival tribes Arabs enslaved conquered Africans European enslavement result of mercantilism

II. Atlantic Slave Trade Result of European Expansion to India/China Dominated early on by Portuguese Factories: forts/ trading post El Mina Exchanged European goods for gold and ivory etc. Permission from local rulers Eventually pushed inward Some African kingdoms were very wealthy Tried to convert Africans

II. Atlantic Slave Trade Portuguese looked strange and were incorporated into African art (Religious perceptions) Portuguese- Savages/Pagans Initially a legitimate trade relationship 1441 Slave trade greatly increased

II. Atlantic Slave Trade Expansion million slaves shipped 10-20% died in transit 18 th century boom Low reproductive rates Higher in southern US Plantations create demand (Atlantic) Male labor Muslim harems Trans-Saharan -women

II. Atlantic Slave Trade Organization Dutch and British take over trade from Portuguese British Royal African Company (1660’s) Supplied Barbados, Jamaica and Virginia Spanish Indies Piece- Healthy African Male Women and children fraction of this Mulattos or Africans purchased and sold slaves Profitable but sometimes only 5-10%

III. African Societies, Slavery and Slave Trade Types of African Slavery Peasant Chattel (property) Slavery was only way to increase socioeconomic status Used as servants, concubines, soldiers and laborers Women focus to increase family line (harem) Polygamy Islam- only allowed for non-believers

African slave trading kingdoms Asante Gold Coast Controlled gold and slave trade Benin Slave trade profitable but not dominant Dahomey Royal court controlled slave trade Swahili Coast Traded predominantly with Arab states (harem focus) Conversion also a focus Sometimes got violent III. African Societies, Slavery and Slave Trade

IV. White Settlers in Africa Dutch East India Company Boers/Afrikaners settled in Cape Colony Great Trek Zulu Shaka Zulu- brutal ruler who brought more power to Zulu Reorganized military Led to Mfecane- wandering wars Competed with settlers in South

Spread of Africans and their culture Slaves (along with gold and ivory) traded for guns, cloth and tobacco Saltwater slaves- African Born Creole slaves- American Born Mulattos Skin color hierarchy White- light-dark Numerous Rebellions Suriname- fairly successful rebellion- Dutch V. Diaspora

VI. Abolition Ended slave trade Moral Enlightenment Led by England Finally ended in 1888 in Brazil