Impact of Exploration on Africa World History I

Slave Trade – Sugarcane Plantations were set up along the coast of Brazil and in the Caribbean. – The small native American population could not provide enough labor, so Africans were used as slaves. The trade of slaves became part of triangular trade.triangular trade Triangular trade was a pattern of trade that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas. – Europe – sent manufactured goods to Africa. – Africa – sent slaves to the Americas – Americas – sent raw materials to Europe. – Up to 10 million slaves were brought to the Americas between the early 16 th and late 19 th centuries.

Slave Trade The death rate of slaves being transported along the Middle Passage was very high. – Middle Passage - middle portion of the triangular trade route, from Africa to the Americas. Many slaves died on the journey, others died shortly after arriving due to disease. – Demand for slaves increased, leading to Europeans moving inland in search of slaves. Free Africans were now being taken and African societies were suffering. African protests were ignored. Local rulers cooperated with Europeans by raiding their own villages in search of slaves.

Effects of the Slave Trade Effects varied from area to area. – Depopulation occurred in some places. African communities lost their strongest and youngest men and women. – Increased raids on villages by slave traders. – Destruction of African societies. Culture was destroyed in African villages. Loss of faith in Gods. Corruption.

Political and Social Structure For the most part, Europeans only influenced the costal regions. – Most traditional African political systems remained. – There was a shift in trade in Africa. Most trade moved toward the coast. This weakened inland African trading empires. – Despite the European Presence, there was little change in African religion. The majority of Africans continued to practice Islam. Christianity did not spread in Africa.