The African Slave Trade and its Affect on Africa

The BeginningsONE IMPORTANT POINT: Slavery existed in Africa

BEFORE Europeans arrived

It was a sign of wealth to own slaves.

The Europeans established ports on the coast where they could start trading with the Africans.

Eventually these were used for slave trading.

Why did Europeans need slaves?To Work on the plantations of the New World

Where were the majority of African slaves sent?West Indies – 42%

Brazil – 38%

Between 1450 and 1850 about 12 million Africans were shipped across the AtlanticAbout 10 to 11 million made it alive!

WHO was most likely captured for slavery?

The Triangle of Trade1500’s – 1870’s

Europe

Africa

New World

Middle Passage

OutwardPassage

ReturnPassage

Which types of goods traveled on each leg of the triangle of trade?

? Finished products: Cloth, Beads, Liquor and Guns

? SLAVES

?

Raw Materials:Sugar, Cotton, Tobacco,

400 years of the slave trade. What affect do you think this had on African society? Explain your reasoning.

An estimate for a cargo to purchase 250 Negroes at Bonny80 rolls of blue chintz cloth100 rolls of cotton cloth with fine small stripes (small)100 rolls of cotton cloth with fine small stripes (large)100 cotton rolls with red and blue mixed stripes30 cloths blue and white checked 300 muskets bright barrels300 muskets black barrels40 pair common large pistols2 tons lead in small bars14 tons iron 1000 copper rods80 cases bottles of brandy 5 cases pipe beads

This is part of a record of a cargo list for a ship going to Africa from Bristol England in the 18th Century

Source: The City of Bristol and its Links to the Transatlantic Slave Tradewww. flocs.com/websites/bristolslavery/tradetriangle/outwardpassage.htm

Coastal KingdomsAt first the African civs were

only interested in trading goods with the Europeans.

By the 1700s, the influence of Europeans and their weapons transformed African tribes into slave producers.

They formed armies to capture slaves from other tribes (clans) from the interior.

Slavery and East AfricaThe Swahili trading

states remained largely unaffected by European slave trade to the Americas

Slaves in this region were primarily women who were destined to become members of Arabian harems.

“ I might say my sufferings were great, but when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I regard myself as a particular favorite of Heaven and acknowledge the mercies of Providence in every occurrence of my life.”

From the Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavas Vassa. Written by himself , 1789.

Some slaves not only gained their freedom, but became educated and became early abolitionists!