African Slave TradeAfrican Slave Trade

What was Africa like before What was Africa like before the slave trade?the slave trade?

► Before slavery Africa was mostly peaceful. Before slavery Africa was mostly peaceful. ► They had kings and queens, rich and poor and it was like They had kings and queens, rich and poor and it was like

anywhere elseanywhere else► They had a wide variety of political arrangements They had a wide variety of political arrangements

including kingdoms, city-states and other organizations including kingdoms, city-states and other organizations with different cultures and languages. with different cultures and languages.

► European visitors to Africa recognized that many African European visitors to Africa recognized that many African societies were as advanced or even more so than their societies were as advanced or even more so than their own. own.

► Before the slave trade, African leaders saw Europeans as Before the slave trade, African leaders saw Europeans as equal to themselves. equal to themselves.

3 Main Trades3 Main Trades

►Trans-Saharan Slave Trade (900-1500)Trans-Saharan Slave Trade (900-1500)►East African Slave Trade (900-1600)East African Slave Trade (900-1600)►Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (1500-late Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (1500-late

1800s)1800s)

Trans-Saharan Slave TradeTrans-Saharan Slave Trade

►Trade routes economically connected Trade routes economically connected the Mediterranean coast, Southern the Mediterranean coast, Southern Europe, the Middle East and Asia to Europe, the Middle East and Asia to West AfricaWest Africa

► Items of trade into West Africa: silks, Items of trade into West Africa: silks, cotton, cloth, beads, mirrors, dates, saltcotton, cloth, beads, mirrors, dates, salt

► Items received: gold, ivory, gum, kola Items received: gold, ivory, gum, kola nuts and slaves.nuts and slaves.

East African Slave TradeEast African Slave Trade

►Trade between East Africa, the Middle Trade between East Africa, the Middle East and AsiaEast and Asia

►East African slaves traded to Persia, East African slaves traded to Persia, Egypt, Arabia, India and as far as Egypt, Arabia, India and as far as Malaysia and IndonesiaMalaysia and Indonesia

►Slaves traded for silk, spices, gold and Slaves traded for silk, spices, gold and silversilver

Trans-Atlantic Slave TradeTrans-Atlantic Slave Trade

►Atlantic system was the trade of Atlantic system was the trade of African slaves by mostly English, African slaves by mostly English, Brazilian, French and Dutch traders. Brazilian, French and Dutch traders.

►The main destinations of this phase The main destinations of this phase were the Caribbean colonies and were the Caribbean colonies and Brazil, as a number of European Brazil, as a number of European countries built up economically slave-countries built up economically slave-dependent colonial empires in the New dependent colonial empires in the New World. World.

Triangular TradeTriangular Trade

Destination Percentage (1450-Destination Percentage (1450-1900)1900)

►Brazil- 35.4%Brazil- 35.4%►Spanish Empire- 22.1%Spanish Empire- 22.1%►British West Indies- 17.7%British West Indies- 17.7%►French West Indies- 14.1%French West Indies- 14.1%►British North America and Future USA- British North America and Future USA-

4.4%4.4%►Dutch West Indies- 4.4%Dutch West Indies- 4.4%►Danish West Indies- 0.2%Danish West Indies- 0.2%

The Middle PassageThe Middle Passage

►The journey across the Atlantic took The journey across the Atlantic took approximately six months to completeapproximately six months to complete

►A slave ship could hold up to 300 slaves A slave ship could hold up to 300 slaves and 30 crewmenand 30 crewmen

►Conditions were horrendous and food Conditions were horrendous and food was scarcewas scarce

►20% of all enslaved Africans died on 20% of all enslaved Africans died on while on the middle passage (1 out of while on the middle passage (1 out of every 5)every 5)

““Coffin” PositionCoffin” Position

Captives Thrown OverboardCaptives Thrown Overboard

J.M. TurnerJ.M. Turner

Motivation for the Slave Motivation for the Slave TradeTrade

►$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

►DehumanizationDehumanization► Agricultural Agricultural

economies economies depended on depended on manual labormanual labor

Abolition of the Trans Atlantic Abolition of the Trans Atlantic Slave TradeSlave Trade

►African Resistance to slavery: African Resistance to slavery: everyday Africans, African ruling elite, everyday Africans, African ruling elite, growing abolitionist support, overt growing abolitionist support, overt resistance by African slavesresistance by African slaves

►Change in attitude of Europe towards Change in attitude of Europe towards the slave tradethe slave trade

►No longer made economic senseNo longer made economic sense► Industrial Revolution and growth of Industrial Revolution and growth of

legitimate tradelegitimate trade

The Impact of the Slave Trade The Impact of the Slave Trade on Africaon Africa

► Population loss: Various accounts show between 9 Population loss: Various accounts show between 9 and 12 million Africans taken during the Atlantic and 12 million Africans taken during the Atlantic slave tradeslave trade

► Inter-state conflictsInter-state conflicts► Rise and disappearance of kingdomsRise and disappearance of kingdoms► DiseaseDisease► Culture changesCulture changes► Stagnation of African IndustryStagnation of African Industry► Long Distance trade/marketing grewLong Distance trade/marketing grew► Economic dependency on European economyEconomic dependency on European economy► Development of racismDevelopment of racism► Transformation of slavery in AfricaTransformation of slavery in Africa► Introduction of new slave systemsIntroduction of new slave systems