1. Africa and Africans in the Age of the Atlantic Slave Trade
Chapter 20

2. The Portuguese in Africa
Established Factories
El Mina- gold trade- most important
Not powerful enough to impose will on Africans
Most forts were established only after receiving consent of local leaders

3. Portuguese created some settlements
No POLITICAL control
Not like Latin America
Primarily commercial interests
Use of force and diplomacy
Missionary effort- why?

4. How they saw each other
Africans viewed Portuguese as strange but incorporated them into their world
Portuguese saw Africans as savages who could be civilized and converted

5. Statistics
Between 1450 and 1750, 12 million Africans transported across Atlantic
80% transported between 1700s and 1800s
High volume necessary due to high mortality and low fertility
Advent of sugar plantations

6. Slave trade with Muslim world continues
Rates of trade reflect changing economic and political situation in the New World
Slave trade with Muslim world continues
3 million transported between 1450 and 1750

7. Demographics Trade with Muslim world tended to focus on women
Atlantic slave trade tended to focus on men
African population reduced by half of what it would have been without slave trade by 1750

8. Organization Portuguese controlled up until 1630
Dutch seized control of El Mina in 1637, became major competitors
1660 English charter Royal African Company to engage in slave trade
18th century, France becomes a major trader
Trading forts/merchant towns est.

9. Both Africans and Europeans involved in slave trade
Drew African economy into world economy
Contributed to formation of early capitalism in the Atlantic
Resulted in African economies becoming dependent on trade with Europe

10. Part II: African Societies, Slavery, and the Slave Trade

11. Slaving and African Politics
Most African states= small/unstable
Increasing frequency of wars led to increasing need for improved weaponry
Power shifted = European coastal presence
Coastal and Inland kingdoms gained power by gaining guns and working as intermediaries to the Europeans in the slave trade

12. How were the slaves obtained?
Interior to the coastal regions
Sale of slaves by tribal chiefs
POWs from tribal wars**
Potential plotters against tribe
Criminals
Refugees
Kidnapping

13. Asante- West Africa
Gained access to firearms in 1650 and began expanding
Became the dominant power on the gold coast up until 1820

14. Dahomey- Slaving State 1720s
Used access to firearms to form an autocratic state
Primary economic activity relied on the slave trade
Growth of absolute rulers paralleled the rise of absolutism in Europe

15. East Africa
Swahili towns continue commerce in gold, ivory, and slaves with Middle Eastern markets
Ottoman Turks and Portuguese
Indian Ocean
Plantations est. on eastern coast by merchants

16. Part III: White Settlers and Africans in South Africa

17. South Africa
1652- Dutch East India Company establishes the Cape Colony
Stopping point to Asia
Dutch (Boers) enslave local Africans
1795 Britain seized colony

18. Zulu Rise to Power 1818 rule of Nguni people passes to Shaka
Shaka builds new military and political organization (Zulu State)
Absorb or destroy neighbors
Zulu begin Mfecane Wars in 1840s