THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE#5 World History

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

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

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

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

THE MIDDLE PASSAGE

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?

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?

IMPERIALISM AND COLONIALISM # 6 World

History