Africa and Africans in the Age of the Atlantic Slave Trade

Changing Times for Sub-Saharan Africa Continued influence of Islam and new contact with the West – Religious, political, and social change Uneven contact=uneven changes – Diaspora – New exchange of food, disease, animals, ideas – European colonization/settlement But most of Africa remained independent politically and culturally – Major difference from Latin America Slavery and slave trade a by-product of rise of large kingdoms?

Rise of the Atlantic Slave Trade Portuguese first Europeans involved – Set up “factories” (forts and trading posts) El Mina, heart of Gold Coast Inefficient to raid for slaves – Too few Portuguese – Danger of venturing too far from coast – Better to trade with local rulers

Portuguese Attitudes Wary of Muslim Africans Heavy interest elsewhere – Benin – Kongo Christian missionaries and Nzinga Mvemba Saw Africans as savages capable of conversion and civility Combination of commercial, military, and missionary efforts

Initial Portuguese Activities Establish forts and trading posts. Portuguese provided – European commodities – Military support – And…wait for it…slaves Select African rulers provide – Ivory – Pepper – Animal hides – Gold Use of existing African trade routes to reach rarer goods in African interior

Rising Importance of Slave Trade Only 50 slaves per year brought to Portugal in 1450 – Acquired by Portuguese raids 500 slaves per year after trading for slaves Increasing numbers as plantations on islands off Africa become sugar plantations – These become the models for Latin American plantations Numbers increase dramatically by mid-16 th century – Parallels rise of Portuguese and Spanish in America

Expansion of Slavery Scholars debate how many slaves were “imported.” Atlantic Slave Trade estimates about 12 million between 1450 and 1850 – Middle Passage mortality rate fairly steady, between 10% and 20% – No data on how many died in Africa during slaving wars and forced marches. Perhaps as high as 1/3 total number captured – Numbers increased over time because high mortality rates in the Caribbean Latin America – More than 7 million from – 42% of all slaves went to Brazil; mortality rate highest Trans-Sahara, Red Sea, and east African Slave Trade run by Muslims adds another 3 million slaves to the mix. – Mostly women as concubines and domestic servants Unlike the Trans-Atlantic trade, which emphasized men

Demographic Impact on West Africa Huge drain on the male population – Men better suited for sugar plantations – Women and children kept in Africa as domestic slaves Kept up the population of potential slaves 25 million people in 1850 (est) – Perhaps ½ of what would have been! New crops (maize and manioc) help bolster population

Organizational Patterns Reflect political situation in Europe – Portuguese first – Then Dutch (seize El Mina in 1637) – Then English and French Merchant towns in Africa – Death traps for Europeans – 10% of Royal African Company employees return to England Need to deal with local rulers – Pay taxes – Give gifts Spain’s Indies Piece – Prices based on healthy men – Women and children much less

Issue of Profitability Were the profits really higher? – Up to a 300% profit on a single slaving voyage – But extreme risks and high costs Minus costs, perhaps only 5%-10% average But slaves were an essential “side” of the Triangular Trade routes. Industrial Revolution will promote other industries and modes of commerce

African Societies and Slavery Long tradition of various forms – From essential “peasantry” to “chattel” No single way of slavery—big continent! – Islamic concepts of slavery Slavery of nonbelievers – Benign forms elsewhere – Generally, no enslavement of own people So Europeans latched onto a pre-existing system

Changes to African Politics Shifts in power and centralization – Coastal areas dominated by Europeans – Intermediary areas prosper – Access to European goods Firearms Iron Horses, etc. Some key powers – Asante Gold Coast Union of 20 small states Gold, but slavery 2/3 of trade – Benin – Dahomey 70 miles from coast Centralized and expanded after access to firearms

Sub-Saharan Art Bronze casting Woodcarving Weaving Ivory

East Africa and Sudan Swahili connections Trade with Ottoman Turks and Portuguese Specialized in ivory and slaves Bantu interior – Less is known – Islam, animism, and syncretism – Increased Islam in Sudan after 1770 Leads to religious and political upheavals

Whites in Southern Africa Climate less harsh – Good for farming and herding First colony by Dutch in 1652 Boers move inland – 17,000 in Cape Colony by 1800 British seize colony in Much conflict with Bantu’s pressing south and Afrikaners moving north Boer’s migrate further north to escape British laws

Mfecane and Zulu Rise Mfecane: wars of crushing and wandering Shaka transforms Zulu Boers hold on (sometimes just barely) British have to crush Zulu power

African Diaspora Rise in slave prices by 1700 – Favors more trade for African slaves Mortality rate 10-20%, so… – Ships filled to 120% capacity Life under the deck – Bleak…

On the Middle Passage “I imagine there can be but one place more horrible in all creation than the hold of a slave ship, and that place is where slaveholders and their myrmidons are the most likely to find themselves some day, when alas, 'twill be too late, too late, alas!” –Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua

Slave Society in America Hierarchy of status – Color and “race” played a role Mulattos Creoles “Saltwater” – Some African ethnic ties remain important Plays roles in some rebellions

Slave Religions Portuguese and Spanish make Catholics English protestants Syncretism – Obeah – Candomble – Vodun

End of the Slave Trade & Abolition Enlightenment Christianity British Industrial Revolution

Compare and Contrast European encounters in Africa and Latin America – Economic – Political – Social Slavery in Brazil and the British North American colonies

Change and Continuity Over Time How Europeans and the slave trade changed Africa – Political structures – Demography – Economics / trade