1 the slave trade. 2 what was west africa like before? africa's economic and social development...

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The Slave TradeThe Slave Trade

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What was West Africa like What was West Africa like before?before?

• Africa's economic and social Africa's economic and social development before 1500 may development before 1500 may arguably have been ahead of Europe's. arguably have been ahead of Europe's.

• It was gold from the great empires of It was gold from the great empires of West Africa, Ghana, Mali and Songhay West Africa, Ghana, Mali and Songhay that provided the means for the that provided the means for the economic take-off of Europe in the 13th economic take-off of Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries and aroused the and 14th centuries and aroused the interest of Europeans in western Africa. interest of Europeans in western Africa.

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What was West What was West Africa like before?Africa like before?

•In the 14th century, the West African In the 14th century, the West African empire of Mali was larger than empire of Mali was larger than Western Europe and reputed to be Western Europe and reputed to be one of the richest and most powerful one of the richest and most powerful states in the world. states in the world.

•When the emperor of Mali, Mansa When the emperor of Mali, Mansa Musa visited Cairo in 1324, it was Musa visited Cairo in 1324, it was said that he took so much gold with said that he took so much gold with him that its price fell dramatically him that its price fell dramatically and had not recovered its value even and had not recovered its value even 12 years later. 12 years later.

•The empire of Songhay was known, The empire of Songhay was known, among other things, for the university among other things, for the university of Sankore based in Timbuktu.of Sankore based in Timbuktu.

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Q1.What was Africa like before the

slave traders arrived?

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Why did Africa allow its people to be Why did Africa allow its people to be turned into slaves?turned into slaves?

• Historians have long debated how and why Historians have long debated how and why African kingdoms and merchants entered into African kingdoms and merchants entered into a trade that was so disadvantageous to Africa a trade that was so disadvantageous to Africa and its inhabitants.and its inhabitants.

• Some have argued that slavery was endemic Some have argued that slavery was endemic (??)(??) at that time in Africa and that, therefore, at that time in Africa and that, therefore, a demand from Europe quickly led to the a demand from Europe quickly led to the development of an organised trade. development of an organised trade.

• Others have queried the use of the term Others have queried the use of the term 'slave' when referring to servitude in African 'slave' when referring to servitude in African societies, arguing that many of those societies, arguing that many of those designated slaves by Europeans had definite designated slaves by Europeans had definite rights, and could sometimes own property or rights, and could sometimes own property or rise to public office.rise to public office.(??)(??)

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• Africans could become slaves as punishment Africans could become slaves as punishment for a crime, as payment for a family debt, or for a crime, as payment for a family debt, or most commonly of all, by being captured as most commonly of all, by being captured as prisoners of war.prisoners of war.

Q2. Slavery took place in Africa

before the Portuguese

arrived. Why did it happen?

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• With the arrival of European and American ships With the arrival of European and American ships offering trading goods in exchange for people, offering trading goods in exchange for people, Africans had an added incentive to enslave each Africans had an added incentive to enslave each other, often by kidnapping. other, often by kidnapping. (??)(??)

• There is no doubt that Europeans were not There is no doubt that Europeans were not capable of venturing inland to capture the capable of venturing inland to capture the millions of people who were transported from millions of people who were transported from Africa. In the areas where slavery was not Africa. In the areas where slavery was not practised, such as among the Xhosa people of practised, such as among the Xhosa people of southern Africa, European captains were unable southern Africa, European captains were unable to buy slaves. to buy slaves.

• On the African side, the slave trade was On the African side, the slave trade was generally the business of rulers or wealthy and generally the business of rulers or wealthy and powerful merchants, concerned with their own powerful merchants, concerned with their own selfish or narrow interests, rather than those of selfish or narrow interests, rather than those of the continent.the continent.

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• At that time, there was no concept of being African. At that time, there was no concept of being African. Identity and loyalty was based on kinship or Identity and loyalty was based on kinship or membership of a specific kingdom or society, rather membership of a specific kingdom or society, rather than to the African continent. than to the African continent.

• However, by the mid-17th century the European However, by the mid-17th century the European demand for captives, particularly for the sugar demand for captives, particularly for the sugar plantations in the Americas, became so great that plantations in the Americas, became so great that they could only be acquired through initiating raiding they could only be acquired through initiating raiding and warfare. and warfare. (??)(??)

• There is no doubt that some societies preyed on There is no doubt that some societies preyed on others to obtain captives in exchange for European others to obtain captives in exchange for European firearms, in the belief that if they did not acquire firearms, in the belief that if they did not acquire firearms in this way to protect themselves, they firearms in this way to protect themselves, they would be attacked and captured by their rivals and would be attacked and captured by their rivals and enemies who did possess such weapons. enemies who did possess such weapons. Q3. How did Europeans

get slaves early on? Later?

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However some Africans were not so However some Africans were not so happy about the trade happy about the trade

• As early as 1526, King Afonso of Kongo, who As early as 1526, King Afonso of Kongo, who had previously enjoyed good relations with the had previously enjoyed good relations with the Portuguese, complained to the king of Portugal Portuguese, complained to the king of Portugal that Portuguese slave traders were kidnapping that Portuguese slave traders were kidnapping his subjects and depopulating his kingdom.his subjects and depopulating his kingdom.

• He attacked the forts that the European He attacked the forts that the European powers had constructed on the coast.powers had constructed on the coast.

• In 1630, Queen Njingha Mbandi of Ndongo (in In 1630, Queen Njingha Mbandi of Ndongo (in modern Angola) attempted to drive the modern Angola) attempted to drive the Portuguese out of her realm, but was finally Portuguese out of her realm, but was finally forced to compromise with them. forced to compromise with them.

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However some Africans were not so However some Africans were not so happy about the trade happy about the trade

• In 1720, King Agaja Trudo of Dahomey not only In 1720, King Agaja Trudo of Dahomey not only opposed the trade, but even went as far as to attack opposed the trade, but even went as far as to attack the forts that the European powers had constructed the forts that the European powers had constructed on the coast. on the coast.

• But his need for firearms forced him to reach an But his need for firearms forced him to reach an agreement with the European slave traders.agreement with the European slave traders.

• Other African leaders such as Donna Beatriz Kimpa Other African leaders such as Donna Beatriz Kimpa Vita in Kongo and Abd al-Qadir, in what is now Vita in Kongo and Abd al-Qadir, in what is now northern Senegal, also urged resistance against the northern Senegal, also urged resistance against the forced export of Africans. forced export of Africans.

• Especially those who were threatened with Especially those who were threatened with enslavement, as well as those held captive on the enslavement, as well as those held captive on the coast, rebelled against enslavement. It is now coast, rebelled against enslavement. It is now thought that there were rebellions on at least 20 thought that there were rebellions on at least 20 percent of all slave ships. percent of all slave ships. Q4. Did all the African nations approve of

slavery?

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What the world thought about What the world thought about slaveryslavery

• Until the late eighteenth century few Until the late eighteenth century few people thought that there was anything people thought that there was anything wrong with using African slaves. wrong with using African slaves.

• Cheap labour in vast quantities was Cheap labour in vast quantities was needed to work the rapidly expanding needed to work the rapidly expanding plantation culture of the Americas and plantation culture of the Americas and slaves seemed the perfect solution. slaves seemed the perfect solution.

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What the world thought about What the world thought about slaveryslavery

• According to Colonel Tarleton, Taken from The According to Colonel Tarleton, Taken from The Debate on a Motion for the Abolition of the Slave Debate on a Motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, 1791. Trade, 1791.

• Many attempts had been made to cultivate the lands Many attempts had been made to cultivate the lands in the different Islands, by white labourers; but it was in the different Islands, by white labourers; but it was found, that from the difference of climate, and other found, that from the difference of climate, and other causes, population had decreased, and that those causes, population had decreased, and that those who took the greatest pains to accomplish this, who took the greatest pains to accomplish this, found that, in ten years time, they could not have found that, in ten years time, they could not have any proportion of Whites capable of cultivation at all. any proportion of Whites capable of cultivation at all.

• He therefore agreed in the necessity of the Slave He therefore agreed in the necessity of the Slave Trade, if we mean to carry on the West India Trade, if we mean to carry on the West India Commerce and Cultivation.Commerce and Cultivation.

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Things to think about 1Things to think about 1

• What reasons does Tarleton give to What reasons does Tarleton give to justify the slave trade?justify the slave trade?

• According to Tarleton, why are slaves According to Tarleton, why are slaves needed in the West Indies?needed in the West Indies?

• Does this source tell you anything about Does this source tell you anything about how people thought about slaves?how people thought about slaves?

• How does this source help you How does this source help you understand why some people thought understand why some people thought that slavery was acceptable?that slavery was acceptable?

1515


• According to Colonel Phipps Taken from The Debate According to Colonel Phipps Taken from The Debate on a Motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, on a Motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, 1791. 1791.

• He described the nature of the Governments of He described the nature of the Governments of Africa, from whence the Negroes, who were the Africa, from whence the Negroes, who were the objects of the Slave-Trade, were originally procured. objects of the Slave-Trade, were originally procured.

• The African Governments, he said, were not like The African Governments, he said, were not like those of Europe; they were neither limited those of Europe; they were neither limited Monarchies, Aristocracies, nor Democracies. Monarchies, Aristocracies, nor Democracies. (What (What are these 3 types of government?)are these 3 types of government?)

• They were founded in absolute Despotism, and every They were founded in absolute Despotism, and every subject was an actual Slave. The great men of the subject was an actual Slave. The great men of the country were Slaves to the Governor, their country were Slaves to the Governor, their dependents were Slaves to those great men, and so dependents were Slaves to those great men, and so on, downwards. on, downwards. (What kind of government did Africa (What kind of government did Africa have according to Phipps? Did this make everyone a have according to Phipps? Did this make everyone a slave as he understood it?)slave as he understood it?)

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• According to Colonel Phipps Taken from The Debate According to Colonel Phipps Taken from The Debate on a Motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, on a Motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, 1791. 1791.

• All their customs, in like manner, were different from All their customs, in like manner, were different from those of other countries. those of other countries.

• The prisoners of war too were subject to Slavery, The prisoners of war too were subject to Slavery, and, such being the case, he saw no more cruelty in and, such being the case, he saw no more cruelty in disposing of them to our merchants, than to those of disposing of them to our merchants, than to those of any other nation. any other nation.

• The life of any subject of another prince, was The life of any subject of another prince, was forfeitable, if he were taken captive in war.forfeitable, if he were taken captive in war.

• Criminals also, in cases of adultery and witchcraft, Criminals also, in cases of adultery and witchcraft, were subject to Slavery in Africa.were subject to Slavery in Africa.

1717

Things to consider 2...Things to consider 2...

• What reasons does Phipps give to What reasons does Phipps give to justify the slave trade?justify the slave trade?

• Does this source tell you anything Does this source tell you anything about what some people thought of about what some people thought of slaves?slaves?


1818

What did Europeans think about What did Europeans think about slavery?slavery?

• Extract from a list of resolutions sent to Earl Grey by Extract from a list of resolutions sent to Earl Grey by West Indian planters on the subject of slavery, April West Indian planters on the subject of slavery, April 1831.1831.

• That in this vital question is involved the existence of That in this vital question is involved the existence of the property of a numerous body (slaves were the property of a numerous body (slaves were ‘property’) of His Majesty's subjects, and of a very ‘property’) of His Majesty's subjects, and of a very large portion of British Commerce, and of British large portion of British Commerce, and of British Naval power connected with these great and ancient Naval power connected with these great and ancient colonies, the destruction of which (the slave trade) colonies, the destruction of which (the slave trade) would effect the ruin of all connected with those would effect the ruin of all connected with those colonies, and reduce Great Britain from the Rank of colonies, and reduce Great Britain from the Rank of the first Commercial Country in the world to a state the first Commercial Country in the world to a state of comparative destitution and insignificance. of comparative destitution and insignificance.

1919

Things to think about 3 ….Things to think about 3 ….

• What argument do the planters use to What argument do the planters use to argue for the continued use of slaves?argue for the continued use of slaves?

• Does this source tell you anything Does this source tell you anything about what some people thought of about what some people thought of slaves?slaves?


2020

HomeworkHomework• Use the notes you have made this lesson to Use the notes you have made this lesson to

answer the following:answer the following:

• 1. What were 2 examples of what Africa was 1. What were 2 examples of what Africa was like before the arrival of the Portuguese like before the arrival of the Portuguese traders?traders?

• 2. To start with, some African empires were 2. To start with, some African empires were quite happy to trade slaves. Why? What did quite happy to trade slaves. Why? What did they get out of it?they get out of it?

• 3. Later it was more slave raids than trade. 3. Later it was more slave raids than trade. Why did this happen?Why did this happen?

• 4. What excuses did some Europeans give to 4. What excuses did some Europeans give to continue the slave trade?continue the slave trade?I do expect full answers -

one line each will NOT do

1 the slave trade. 2 what was west africa like before? africa's economic and social development...

Documents

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