Age of Exploration & Slavery in Africa: The African Slave Trade

Images of Slavery: Are any of these images familiar to you? Why?

Slave Trafficking Centuries Old – West African Kingdoms Mali & Songhai – War Spoils – Ancient Practice Nile River Valley Egypt – Nubians – Trans-Saharan Trade 10 th Century C.E. Type of Slavery Differentiated – Domestic Familial – Chattel Slavery in Africa Before European Contact

Age of Exploration Imperialism Phase ’s-1600’s Phase 2- Slavery 1700’s-1800’s Reasons Why the Europeans Took to the Sea 1.) Capitalism began in Europe (compete for trade and services) 2.) Wanted to take over the Muslim dominated spice trade in Asia (Portugal) 3.) Muslims dominated the land trade, so Europeans looked for new sea routes (Spain) 4.) Religious Zeal- spread Christianity 5.) Adventure and Intellectual curiosity

HOW? By mid 1400’s European monarchies wanted to increase 1.) authority 2.) resources They were able to with 1.) Advancing maps 2.) Better ships 3.) Better navigational techniques 4.) Learning the Atlantic Ocean wind patterns

The Age of Exploration Portugal – Created sea route east around – The Cape of Good Hope – Henry The Navigator – Vasco da Gama – Gold, Spices, Slaves Africa – Coast of West Africa – Trading Ports – New Trade Routes Declined because didn’t have the resources to compete with new Imperialist European countries

Sugar Plantations – Sao Tome & Principe W. Coast Africa Portuguese – Established in New World Portugal & Spain (S. Amer.) Late 15 th Century African Slaves Preferred – European Criminals Succumbed – Tropical Diseases – Native Americans Succumbed – Diseases and Maltreatment – African Survival Rate High European Influence: Sugar & Slavery

Spain Wanted to create a new sea route to Asia around Africa- West over the Atlantic Ocean A Whole New World – Columbus- Caribbean, Hispanola, Cuba, Honduras, Americas (thought India) – John Cabot- New England – Pedro Cebral- South America 1500 – Amerigo Vespucci- described geography of New World

European Influence: Sugar & Slavery European Slave Exports (estimates) 1500’s – 275, ’s – 1,000, ’s – 6,000, ’s – 2,000,000+ *6% to N. America

African Slave Markets African monarchs saw slave income potential Europeans lacked means/motivation to capture slaves European demand increased African slave raids Europeans Willing to create conflict between Africans Traded for gold & manufactured European goods

Description of Elmina Castle Elmina, like other West African slave fortresses, housed luxury suites for the Europeans in the upper levels. The slave dungeons below were cramped and filthy, each cell often housing as many as 200 people at a time, without enough space to even lie down. The floor of the dungeon, as result of centuries of impacted filth and human excrement, is now several inches higher than it was when it was built. Outbreaks of malaria and yellow fever were common. Staircases led directly from the governor's chambers to the women's dungeons below, making it easy for him to select personal concubines from amongst the women. African Slave “Castles”

How did it Begin?  Europeans took Africans against their will to use as servants for the rich  They justified their actions because they were exposing Africans to Christianity  Several years after their first arrival in the Americas (Caribbean), Europeans realized they needed laborers to exploit the natural resources and brought in more African slaves

African Slave “Castles” “Door of No Return” El Mina Castle - Ghana “The Dungeon” El Mina Castle - Ghana

Direct route carrying slaves from Africa to The New World Journey Could Last Several Months – Est. 15% of Slaves Died Aboard Triangular Trade & “The Middle Passage” Amistad Film Clip

Demographic & Social Consequences in Africa Some regions became sparsely populated Angola, Congo River Basin, Parts of E. Africa Men targeted more than women Disproportionate number of women in many societies As high as 20% to European destinations were children Able-Bodied Men Lacking to Cultivate Land Economy and Society Suffer as a result European models replace traditional African economic and social structures

French Enlightenment Philosophies Spread Through Europe 18 th Century – Slavery deemed immoral – Slavery Deemed Inefficient Economically Adam Smith – British led abolitionist movement Navy Patrolled African Coast For Slave Ships Created Freed Slave Colony (Sierra Leone) Sugar Availability Rose Greatly Late 18 th Century Slave Uprisings Frightened Europeans – Haiti, 1791 By 19 th Century End, Slave Trade Outlawed Internationally Abolitionist Movement and The End of the Slave Trade Interactive Map Link: Abolition

Effects of Slavery 1807: Britain outlawed slave trade and banned slavery in : Abolition of Slavery in U.S. with the 13 th Amendment African Diaspora: scattering of people Brought suffering but also contributed to the spread of ideas and customs enriching cultures “Back-to-Africa” Sierra Leone: (Freetown) Set up by British for ex-slaves Liberia: American Colonization Society: Set up for ex- slaves from the US

New Imperialism Imperialism: The policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries As Europeans became industrialized, needed goods not slaves

How do you think the decline of the slave trade helped lead to European “New Imperialism” in Africa during the late 19 th century? Do you think the decline of the slave trade had an effect on missionary work in Africa? Why/How? Making Connections: Discuss these questions with a partner