1. Africa and the Atlantic World
Chapter 25
Africa and the Atlantic World

2. African states,

3. Gold-Salt Trade
Berbers
SALT
GOLD

4. The States of West Africa
Songhay Empire, 15th century
Ruler Sunni Ali conquers neighbors, 1464
Governors ruled provinces
Imperial navy on Niger River
Muslim – built schools
Defeated by Moroccan army with muskets, 1591
Ashanti Empire

6. Swahili Decline in East Africa
Portuguese Vasco da Gama skirmishes with Africans on eastern coast,
1502 returns, forces Kilwa to pay tribute
1505 Portuguese gun ships dominate Swahili ports

7. Swahili-Speaking Areas of E. Africa
SWAHILI [“the coast’] = Bantu + some Arabic

8. The Kingdom of Kongo Relations with Portuguese beginning 1483
King Nzinga Mbemba (Alfonso I, r ) converts to Christianity, which endorsed their rule
Useful connection with Portuguese interests
But zealous convert, attempts to convert population at large

9. Slave Raiding in Kongo Initial Portuguese attempts at slave raiding
Soon discovered it is easier to trade weapons for slaves provided by African traders
Dealt with several authorities besides Kongo
Kongo kings appeal without success to slow slave trade
Relations deteriorate, Portuguese attack Kongo and decapitate king in 1665

11. African Captives in Yokes

12. Slave Trade in the Congo

13. Angola

14. The Kingdom of Ndongo (Angola)
Ndongo gains wealth and independence from Kongo by means of Portuguese slave trade
But Portuguese influence resisted by Queen Nzinga (r )
Posed as male King, with male concubines in female dress attending her

15. Regional Kingdoms in South Africa
1300: Great Zimbabwe
Dutch build Cape Town in 1652, increased involvement with southern African politics
Resources will attract British interests as well

16. “Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure”
Great Zimbabwe [ ]
“Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure”

17. Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa
Islam develops in commercial centers
Timbuktu becomes major center of Islamic scholarship by 16th century
African traditions and beliefs blended into Islam
Gender relations, standards of female modesty
Fulani Islam

18. Mosque in Gao

19. Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa
Like African Islam, syncretic with African beliefs
Antonian Movement, Founded by Doña Beatriz (13th century Franciscan preacher, patron saint of Portugal)
Promotes distinctly African Christianity
Jesus a black man, Kongo the holy land, heaven for Africans

20. Social Change in Early Modern Africa
Trade with Europeans brings new goods to Africa
New crops from Americas
Increased food supply boosts population growth despite slave trade

21. Foundations of the Slave Trade
African slavery dates to antiquity
War captives, criminals, people expelled from clans
Distinct from Asian, European slavery
No private property, therefore wealth defined by human labor potential, not land
Slaves often assimilated into owner’s clan

22. The Islamic Slave Trade
Dramatic expansion of slave trade with Arab traders
New slaves acquired by raiding villages, selling on Swahili coast
Arab traders depend on African infrastructure to maintain supply
European demand on west coast causes demand to rise again

23. Arab Slave Traders

24. The Early Slave Trade
Portuguese raid West African coast in 1441, take 12 men
African dealers ready to provide slaves
1460: 500 slaves per year
1520: 2,000 per year

25. The Triangular Trade
1. European manufactured goods (especially firearms) sent to Africa
2. African slaves purchased and sent to Americas
3. Cash crops purchased in Americas and returned to Europe

26. The Triangle Trade

27. The Middle Passage (Africa-Americas)
Middle passage under horrific conditions
4-6 weeks
Mortality initially high, often over 50%, eventually declined to 5%
Total slave traffic, 15th-18th c.: 12 million
Approximately 4 million die before arrival

28. Onboard the Slave Ship

29. Notice of a Slave Auction

30. Slave Auction in the Southern U. S.

31. Inspection and Sale

32. Slave Master Brands

33. Whipped Slave, early 19c

34. African Slave Export per Year

35. Social Effects of Slave Trade
Millions of captured Africans removed from society, deplete regional populations
How does African population increase?
Distorted sex ratios result
2/3 of slaves male, years of age
Encouraged polygamy, women acting in traditionally male roles

36. Political Effects of Slave Trade
Introduction of firearms increases violence of pre- existing conflicts
More weapons, more slaves; more slaves, more weapons
Slave armies - Dahomey

37. Destinations of African Slaves

38. Regional Differences
Caribbean, South America: African population unable to maintain numbers
Brutal working conditions, sanitation, nutrition
Gender imbalance
North America: less disease, more normal sex ratio
Slave families encouraged as prices rise in 18th century

39. Resistance to Slavery Half-hearted work effort Sabotage
Flight (Maroon populations - were runaway slaves who formed independent settlements together)
Revolts

40. Slave Revolts Only one successful revolt
French-controlled St.-Domingue (1793)
Renamed Haiti
Elsewhere, revolts outgunned by Euro-American firepower

41. African Diaspora

42. African-American Culture
Diversity of African cultures concentrated in slave population
Blend of cultures
African languages when numbers permit, otherwise European language adapted with African influences
Creole languages
Christianity adapted to incorporate African traditions
Examples of African culture in the Americas?

43. The Abolition of Slavery
Economic costs of slavery increase
Military expenses to prevent rebellions
18th century: price of sugar falls, price of slaves rises
Wage labor becomes more efficient
Wage-earners can spend income on manufactured goods

44. “Black Gold” for Sale!