“Old Imperialism” and the Slave TradeIt’s affect on Africa
“Old Imperialism”
Result of European Exploration (spices and gold)
Attempting to remove control from the Arab traders and Muslim Empires
Europeans mostly established trading posts along the coasts of Africa, South Asia, and South-East Asia
Cooperated and traded with local leaders and cultures
The exception was in the New World where the Spanish, Portuguese, and English settled the land using native slave labor
Demand for goods from the New World continued to grow in Europe
Tobacco Cotton but, especially SUGAR!
“Old Imperialism”
Need for Cheap Labor
Native Slave labor system failed Disease They could escape – knew the land and could hide
African slaves had been bought and sold or centuries by Muslim Empires
The Portuguese were the first to realize the value of the slave trade
•At first, wealthy Europeans sought slaves as domestic servants
•Planters, needing cheap labor to replace Native Slaves, saw their answer in the African Slave Trade
Slave Trade
First slaves captured by raiding villagesEventually, began trading with local rulers for prisoners of war
Horses Weapons Cloth Finished goods
Lead to increased conflict throughout West and Equatorial Africa
Triangle Trade
Question…What was Triangle Trade?
Triangle Trade
“Middle Passage”
“Middle Passage”
Triangle Trade
Triangle Trade
Triangle Trade
Abolition of Slavery
Slave trade ended for multiple reasonsSocial – Europeans and Americans became more and more troubled with the enslavement of other human beings
British Abolitionists were first - William Wilberforce
Banning of Slave Trade passed by Parliament in 1807
US Abolitionist Movement/Civil War
Slave & African Resistance Armed resistance by tribes in Africa as traders moved further inland
Revolt in Saint-Dominique (Haiti) – Francois-Dominique Toussaint
Economic – Industrial Revolution decreased the need for slave labor
Abolition of Slavery
End of Slave Trade DID NOT mean an end to slavery!
1813: Argentina. 1851: Ecuador 1814: Colombia. 1854: Peru and Venezuela
1823: Chile. 1863: United States
1824: Central America 1863: Dutch colonies
1829: Mexico. 1871: Brazil 1831: Bolivia. 1873: Puerto Rico 1833: Britain. 1886: Cuba 1842: Uruguay. 1888: Brazil 1848: French and Danish colonies 1960s: Saudi Arabia and Angola
Effects of the Slave Trade
Human cost 10,000,000 – 12,000,000 Africans sold into slavers
Countless numbers died in battles, forced marches, in transit, or resisting
African Kingdoms Entire communities were devastated Many smaller tribes and societies disappeared Continuous warfare among rival kingdoms for prisoners to sell as slaves
Economically dependent on European goods
African Diaspora Spread of African people and culture across the globe
Especially the New World Permanently changed the racial make-up of entire societies
Long-Term Effects of the Slave TradeSpecifically in Africa
Sex-Ratio – since most slaves were male, societies left with few men
Population Growth – it is estimated that the population in Africa was half of what it should have been in 1850
Political Instability – since the population had been so decimated, political power became fragmented to local tribes/rulers.
Long-Term Effects of the Slave TradeSpecifically in Africa (cont.)
Societal “Weakness” – Instability and population issues hindered the growth of larger political/national structures, keeping Africa relatively weak (unlike power in Europe and Muslim World)
No Economic Development – As Industrialization and trade strengthened Europe and the Muslim World, Africa remained centuries behind
Loss of Identity – African descendants around the world, and even in parts of Africa, lost any sense of culture and identity. This makes unity among people even more difficult
“New Imperialism”
THESE 6 EFFECTS MADE AFRICA SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUTURE EXPLOITATION
Europe will change its approach to Africa in the 1880’s starting with actions in the Congo by King Leopold of Belgium
Soon, all the major European Powers will return to Africa with a new mission!