1. Africa and its history of slavery

2. African Slavery
Slavery existed in Africa since ancient times; it did not begin in the 1500’s with European contact
Most slaves were P.O.W.’s but some sold themselves into slavery during times of famine

3. African Slavery
Slaves were an integral part of community
Treated as servants & NOT AS PROPERTY
In time, slaves or their children could become full members of the society

4. Atlantic Slave Trade
Europeans introduced slavery on a massive scale
1700’s - height of the slave trade - 60,000 Africans/year packed onto slave ships
“Middle passage” - trans-Atlantic voyage to Americas

5. Atlantic Slave Trade
European slave traders paid local African rulers guns for the slaves
With these same guns, African slave traders began attacking villages to take prisoners as slaves

6. Atlantic Slave Trade
Slave trade lasted 400 years and between 2 and 3 million Africans died during that time
In ship’s hold, conditions were filthy and crowded and diseases spread rapidly

7. Effects of the Slave Trade
1. Disrupted societies
2. Encouraged wars and increased tensions among neighboring peoples
3. Economic life suffered - healthy men & women were removed from their community

8. Effects of the Slave Trade
Many small communities disappeared without strong hands to plant & harvest
4. Diaspora - scattering of people - trade sent millions of Africans overseas and brought great suffering to captives

9. Free Areas
Britain set up a colony, Sierra Leone, as a haven for former slaves after abolition
Free blacks in the U.S. organized Liberia