African African ExplorationExploration

The Age of EuropeanThe Age of EuropeanExploration & ColonizationExploration & Colonization

• Western European countries expand during 15th century

–Explore, conquer, and colonize

ExploreExplore• Portugal explores traveled all

around the coastline on Africa.• Albuquerque makes Indian Ocean

“Lake Portuguese”• Small forts set up on coast to

repair ships, collect supplies, trade for gold.

ConquerConquer• At first tough for Europeans to invade

inland Africa.

• However, once they did they began taking and trading for everything.

• Convinced warrior native tribes to be their allies and through force made them hand over resources for trade.

ConquerConquer• However, Africans were strong

and resisted. So Europeans stopped and finally just made trade relationships.

• What did they trade for:- Gold - Cocoa - Peanuts - Diamonds- Coffee - SLAVES

ColonizeColonize • Europeans left most of North and West

Africa for the natives. Kingdoms were established like the Asante, Usman, and Fulani.

• Europeans colonized and settled in what is known as today South Africa.

• In South Africa there is a strong European, French feel.

Early African SlavesEarly African Slaves• Europeans would trade goods but

also white slaves to Africa for their rich resources.

• The earliest slaves out of Africa to European nations were mainly women and children who would serve as concubines and servants.

African Slave TradeAfrican Slave Trade

• Demand for agricultural labor in 16th century changed slave trade.

• Spanish gold and silver mines• Portuguese sugar plantations• Exportation of tobacco, rice

and indigo from the Americas

TRIANGLE TRADETRIANGLE TRADE

Molasses

Africa

North America

Rum, and

Weapons

The Caribbea

nSlave

s

Becoming a SlaveBecoming a Slave1.Capture Phase2.Transportation Phase

- Middle Passage

3.Seasoning Phase4.Slavery Phase

CaptureCapture • African Tribes would invade other tribes and

capture slaves. • High mortality

–Exhaustion, suicide, murder–Long forced marches from interior - coast

• Factories served as –Headquarters for traders–Warehouses for trade goods–Pens or dungeons for captives

Late-Eighteenth-Century Drawing

In this late-eighteenth-century drawing, African slave traders conduct a group of bound captives from the interior of Africa toward European trading posts.

SOURCE: Culver Pictures, Inc.

TransportationTransportation• Journey referred to as Middle

Passage• 40 to 180 days to reach the

Caribbean• Pirates attacked Spanish ships• Frightening experience

Middle PassageMiddle Passage• Small and narrow ships

• (TIGHT vs. LOOSE)

• Most captains were “tight packers” –Ignored formula in the name of

profits

Middle PassageMiddle Passage• Crowded, unsanitary

conditions– Slaves rode on planks 66” x

15” • only 20”– 25” of headroom

–Males chained together in pairs –Kept apart from women and

children

British Slave Ship

Plan of the British Slave Ship Brookes, 1788. This plan, which may undercount the human cargo the Brookes carried, shows how tightly Africans were packed aboard slave ships.

Middle PassageMiddle Passage• Slaves fed twice per day

–Poor and insufficient diet

• Vegetable pulps, stews, and fruits

• Denied meat or fish

• Ten people eating in one bucket

• Unwashed hands spread disease

• Malnutrition, weakness, depression, death

• African women worth half the price of African men in the Caribbean markets

• Separation from male slaves made them easier targets

• Less protection against unwanted sexual attention from European men

Middle PassageMiddle Passage

SeasoningSeasoning• Slaves seasoned in Barbados

• Worked out to see if they could handle the new climate, and environment

• Work day and Night in slave camps

• Than were sold and shipped to parts of the Caribbean and the Americas

• Pre-sale

–Bathed and exercised

–Oiled bodies to conceal blemishes and bruises

SeasoningSeasoning

SlaverySlavery• 11 Million Slaves were purchased in the

New World from 1500 to 1850• Purchased slaves offspring became slaves

in the Americas.• Invention of Cotton Gin caused need for

more and more slaves.• Slaves lived very harsh lives. • However, cultural has for ever been

changed.

SlaverySlavery• Adapted to new foods• Learned a new language• Africans retained culture despite the

hardships and cruel treatment• Created bonds with shipmates that

replaced blood kinship• African American Cultural established and

continues today

11 Million But so Many More • 1/3 of slaves are killed at early Phases of

Slavery.

• Capture

• Transportation

• So if 11 million become slaves 33 million were captured to start.

QUESTIONS FROM READINGQUESTIONS FROM READING1. Who obtains slaves for trading on the

coast?2. From the reading what were two examples

of how slaves were captured and sent into slavery?

3. According to the doctor along with not allowing Europeans inland, why else is it hard for Europeans to capture slaves?

4. What things do European traders look for in a slave? Why might a slave be rejected?

5. In your opinion just reading this passage who is to blame for the slave trade?