Chapter 21 Africa and the Africans in the Age of the Atlantic Slave Trade

Trend toward expansion : 12 million : 12 million Mortality rate of 10-20% Mortality rate of 10-20% 18 th century was the high point 18 th century was the high point Probably more than 7 million Probably more than 7 million Caribbean/Latin America: Caribbean/Latin America: High mortality + low fertility=loss of popul. High mortality + low fertility=loss of popul. Exception is southern U.S. Exception is southern U.S. Better climate, conditions, etc. Better climate, conditions, etc. Major destinations/sources change through time Major destinations/sources change through time Trans-Saharan-women; Atlantic-men Trans-Saharan-women; Atlantic-men Possibly cut population in half Possibly cut population in half

Atlantic Slave Trade Portuguese set the pattern Portuguese set the pattern Factories Factories El Mina El Mina Most w/ consent of local rulers Most w/ consent of local rulers Trade and commerce Trade and commerce Missionary efforts (Kongo) Missionary efforts (Kongo) Primarily commercial, military +missionary Primarily commercial, military +missionary Pattern followed by others Pattern followed by others Slave trade expands Slave trade expands Needed for sugar production Needed for sugar production

Organization Until 1630, Portuguese controlled coast Until 1630, Portuguese controlled coast Dutch, English, French follow Dutch, English, French follow Deadly for Europeans as well as Africans Deadly for Europeans as well as Africans Slaves came from: Slaves came from: Military campaigns (European and African) Military campaigns (European and African) Agents purchasing captives Agents purchasing captives Dahomey-royal monopoly on slave trade Dahomey-royal monopoly on slave trade Profit????? Profit????? Triangular trade Triangular trade

African societies Slavery was already a part of African society-ranged from peasants to property Slavery was already a part of African society-ranged from peasants to property Some were extensions of lineage/kinship Some were extensions of lineage/kinship Others exploited the slaves Others exploited the slaves Usually Africans did not enslave own people, rather their neighbors Usually Africans did not enslave own people, rather their neighbors

Slaving and Politics : instability, competition, warfare : instability, competition, warfare “more wars=more captives=more slaves” “more wars=more captives=more slaves” Eventual power shift within Africa Eventual power shift within Africa Guns for slaves led to more slaves Guns for slaves led to more slaves Ashanti-maintained power until 1820s Ashanti-maintained power until 1820s Traded gold and slaves Traded gold and slaves Benin-pepper, textiles, ivory more than slaves Benin-pepper, textiles, ivory more than slaves Dahomey-slaves for guns cycle Dahomey-slaves for guns cycle Interest for African arts in Europe Interest for African arts in Europe

East Africa and Sudan Swahili coast-slaves to Arabia/Middle East Swahili coast-slaves to Arabia/Middle East Off-shore islands used slave labor Off-shore islands used slave labor Not much known about interior Not much known about interior Bantu states Bantu states Sudanic region: Sudanic region: Fulani and Islam Fulani and Islam Reformist Islam Reformist Islam Fighting=captives=more slaves Fighting=captives=more slaves

White settlers and Africans in Southern Africa Little affected by slave trade Little affected by slave trade Bantu-speaking peoples populated much of area and expanded south Bantu-speaking peoples populated much of area and expanded south 1652-Dutch colony 1652-Dutch colony Dutch (Boers/Afrikaners) run into Bantus; competition/warfare result; lead to slavery Dutch (Boers/Afrikaners) run into Bantus; competition/warfare result; lead to slavery Mfecane and Zulus Mfecane and Zulus Shaka Zulu Shaka Zulu Zulu wars of 1870s;crushed by British (guns vs. spears) Zulu wars of 1870s;crushed by British (guns vs. spears)

African Diaspora Slave lives Slave lives Middle Passage Middle Passage Americas Americas Plantation system Plantation system Mining Mining Urban slavery Urban slavery “salt water slaves” vs. “Creole slaves” “salt water slaves” vs. “Creole slaves” System based on color/race (created by slaveholders not necessarily slaves) System based on color/race (created by slaveholders not necessarily slaves) Slavery in N. America less directly influenced by Africa Slavery in N. America less directly influenced by Africa

People and gods in exile Lived in family units Lived in family units Brought cultural traits with them; produce a blend of cultures Brought cultural traits with them; produce a blend of cultures Religion: Converted to Catholicism but still retained traditional ideas Religion: Converted to Catholicism but still retained traditional ideas Resistance and rebellion (Jamaica/Suriname) Resistance and rebellion (Jamaica/Suriname)

End of slave trade Resulted from social, political, and economic changes in Europe Resulted from social, political, and economic changes in Europe Opponents by mid-18 th century Opponents by mid-18 th century Inhumanity and cruelty Inhumanity and cruelty British slave trade abolished in 1807**** British slave trade abolished in 1807**** Abolished in Brazil in 1888 Abolished in Brazil in 1888