1. Africa and the Slave Trade
Chapter 20

2. Impact of Slave Trade in Africa
Diaspora
Demographic changes
Depopulation due to volume of trade
Able to recover due to “New World” crops
Involvement in Global economy
State-building in Africa
Increased violence (guns)

3. History of Slavery in Africa
Common in ancient world
Practiced in Africa & Muslim world
Enslavement of neighboring peoples
Slaves form of property & wealth
Trans-Saharan trade
Slaves into Islamic territories
Increased dramatically with Atlantic Slave Trade

4. History of Slavery Changes in slavery
Women and children were most commonly enslaved in the Trans-Saharan trade
WHY???
Atlantic Slave trade preferred men
IMPACT???
Dramatic increase in volume

5. Introduction to the Slave Trade
European trading posts along W. coast
Forced to cooperate with African rulers
WHY???
Commercial goals combined with military and missionary efforts
Congo converted to Christianity
Document from Reader
Slaves became pop. trading item in Atlantic world
First to Europe in small numbers, then to Americas in large numbers

6. Organization: Atlantic Slave Trade
Eu. Forms rel. with African rulers
Exchange manufactured goods and guns for slaves
Slaves sold on west coast were usually POW’s
Captives sold to Europeans in coastal markets
Europeans get very wealthy
Up to 300% profit in some cases
Still risky due to high mortality
African rulers use guns to expand their borders
capture more slaves

7. African Kingdoms
Large states emerged and prospered near the west coast as a result of the Atlantic slave trade
States competed with each other for control of the trade
Major states involved
Benin
Ashanti (Asante)
Dahomey

8. Benin
Involved in slave trade, but did not allow it to dominate the economy
Also traded textiles, pepper, ivory
Existed as powerful state before European influence
At height of power when Europeans arrived
Had well developed culture before European arrival

9. Ashanti (Asante) Located on Gold Coast
Originally 20 small states, united around 1650
Osei Tutu claimed title of asantehene
Supreme ruler (pol. and rel.)
Advised by council members from the various tribal groups
Took advantage of guns and used them to expand borders
Remained powerful until 1820’s
Controlled gold and slave trade for many years
Slaves large part of economy= 2/3 of trade

10. Dahomey More dependent upon slave trade Development of the state
Centered about 70 miles from coast, building power since 17th century
Involvement in slave trade:
1720’s: use of guns to create autocratic state built upon slave trade
Imposed their own culture on the people they conquered
Royal court controlled slave trade and used military to raid neighbors for captives

11. African Culture
Europeans were often impressed with the culture of the African states
Creative and artistic
Europeans would often commission African art
Types of art:
Weaving and basketry, metal working, elaborate sculptures and carvings in wood and ivory
Bodily adornment

12. East Africa and the Sudan
Swahili Coast
Dominated by Ottoman Empire
Some European influence
Will increase over time
Slave trading centers for slaves to Muslim world
Islam’s spread into the interior of Africa turned violent in the 18th century
Reform efforts aimed at eliminating pagan practices and encouraging Islam

13. South Africa Less affected by slave trade
Lack of large states= less war and fewer captives to be sold into slavery
Some kidnapped
Europeans began to create colonies in Southern Africa
Led to conflict over land
Slowly begin to take governmental control

14. The Abolition of Slavery
Slavery was major part of the world economy for several centuries
In the modern period, opposition to slavery will rise
Social changes in Europe and Americas
Gradually, more and more nations abolished slavery
1888 Brazil last American nation to end slavery
Globally, slavery continues for another century before being officially abolished