1. The African Slave trade
#5 World History

2. In the Beginning
Portugal’s Prince Henry was looking for a sea route around Africa to India
West African Kingdoms had an abundance or gold and other resources
Small trading stations on Africa’s western coast
Portuguese and Europeans traded iron and copper for fish, sugar, ivory, gold and pepper
Slavery had existed since ancient times
1400s Europeans brought slaves back to Europe but there was a limited demand

3. The Atlantic Slave Trade
By 1600s a trade network with people as cargo linked Africa, Europe and the Americas
The height of the Atlantic slave trade was 1700s
European slave traders relied on local African rulers to supply them with slaves
Paid for slaves with guns and other manufactured goods
Atlantic slave trade lasted about 400 years and may have caused deaths of as many as 2 or 3 million Africans

5. Revelations
In 1700s some European thinkers began to talk about human rights and opposed slavery
The Quakers were strong supporters of abolition
In 1807 Britain outlawed the slave trade
Slavery continued in the United States until 1865

6. Effects of the Slave Trade
European presence in Africa – leading to their eventual overtaking/colonization of Africa.
African culture is changed at home and its perception in the world is changed.
Trade routes are changed and the distribution of wealth is changed
Destruction of the Western Coast – Deforestation
Many small communities completely disappeared
African diaspora spread the ideas, customs, and beliefs of African peoples to other regions of the world

7. The Middle Passage

8. Questions to Ponder…
Captive Africans resisted slavery from the moment they were first captured through their arrival and existence on plantations in the New World. Describe some of the ways they resisted. What does “mutiny” mean? What part did mutinies play in the slave trade?
How were slaves treated in the markets once they arrived in the New World ? What do you suppose was the most humiliating aspect of being sold as a slave?
What did these captive Africans bring to the New World? How did they help build the economy of America?

9. Questions to ponder…
How did African leaders work with European slave-traders? What did the Europeans have that the African leaders wanted? What role did technology play ? How did this effect the balance of power in the interior of Africa?
One historian says that the most significant impact of the slave trade was the “psychological impact.” Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

10. Imperialism and Colonialism
# 6 World History