Europeans Influence Africa and

Asia

Turbulent Centuries in Africa• “It is said that the first time

they saw sails…they believed they were great seabirds with white wings, which were flying and had come from some strange place…Some thought the ships were fishes, others that they were ghosts that went by night, at which they were terrified” -- Alvise Cadamosto, 1455

Portugal’s Footholds• The Portuguese

originally built small forts on the coast and left just enough men and guns to defend their territory.

• Eventually took over all coastal areas.

Portuguese Coastal Fortress

The Slave Trade • Slavery had previously

existed in Africa as different tribes took over and enslaved each other.

• Europeans shipped slaves to work on their plantations in the Americas.

• Plantations – large estates run by an owner or an owner’s overseer – in the Americas.

The Portuguese in awe of the majesty of the Manikongo. The Portuguese were initially impressed by the Kingdom of Kongo. Depopulation from slave trading would eventually

lead to the disintegration of the once powerful Kongo

Plantations

European Justification (Whatever helps you sleep at night)

• Europeans justified their slave trade by stating that since the Africans were not Christian, they were not civilized, and thus were only fit for slavery.

• The church still sent missionaries to try and convert the natives either in Africa, Asia, or the Americas.

• Missionary: someone who strives to teach Christianity to those who are not followers

The Triangle Trade• African rulers would kidnap

those that lived in the interior and bring them to the coastal forts.

• Europeans would trade gold, guns, textiles, etc. for the captured slaves.

• They would take the kidnap victims on the gruesome “Middle Passage” to the Americas where they would be sold to plantation owners as slaves.

• The America’s produced products like cotton, sugar, grains, timber, tobacco, and other raw materials.

• Ships would take raw materials to Europe to be refined into manufactured goods. (textiles, guns, flour, furniture, etc.)

• These manufactured goods would be traded in Africa for more slaves or sold to colonists in the Americas.

• The process became known as the Triangle Trade.

Resistance• Some African leaders, such as

Affonso I, tried to stop the trade by banishing Europeans from transporting slaves through their lands, but Europeans simply found ways around them, and the resistance was a failure.

Affonso I’s coat of arms

Asante Kingdom• Osei Tutu united many

African cities and formed the Asante Kingdom.

• Tutu claimed he had a right to rule from heaven.

• Asante kingdom created a gold and slave trade monopoly in their kingdom.

• Monopoly: exclusive control over a business or industry, preventing others from becoming part of that market.

Asante Gold Soul

Washers badge

Asante Power• The Asante traded their

gold and slaves for European firearms.

• This allowed them to build a wealthy and powerful state.

• Why is it such a big deal for the Asante Kingdom to own firearms?

Elephant Gun

European Presence Expands• Europeans moved in and

took over Portuguese forts and ports, making them permanent parts of Africa

• Cape Town: First permanent European settlement

• Boers: Dutch farmers who took over African land and killed those who stood in their way.

Cape Town from 1764 by Johannes Rach

Colonization’s Effects Today• Politically: European territorial

boundaries separate some African cultures. – Europeans and Africans

were deliberately separated. (South African Apartheid)

• Economically: Residents were discouraged from building markets and cities, and diverse businesses were discouraged. Because of this, many Africans are in poverty.

The Perfect Picture

Chuck Norris

• Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognized the element of surprise.