Africa and the Africa and the Slave TradeSlave Trade

OriginsOrigins Sugar plantations in Muslim World, Azores, Sugar plantations in Muslim World, Azores,

Canary Islands worked by slavesCanary Islands worked by slaves Spanish establish sugar plantations in the Spanish establish sugar plantations in the

West IndiesWest Indies Native population diesNative population dies Slaves from Africa imported to work on Slaves from Africa imported to work on

plantationsplantations Spanish example soon followed by Spanish example soon followed by

Portuguese, British, French, DutchPortuguese, British, French, Dutch Sugar becomes main export of AmericasSugar becomes main export of Americas

Triangular Triangular TradeTrade

Trade between Africans and Trade between Africans and EuropeansEuropeans

Goods to Africa: guns, Goods to Africa: guns, textiles, hardware, glass textiles, hardware, glass beadsbeads

Goods from Africa: slaves, Goods from Africa: slaves, other goods 40% (gold, ivory, other goods 40% (gold, ivory, forest products)forest products)

Europeans had to observe African Europeans had to observe African trading customstrading customs

Did not take control of large Did not take control of large territoryterritory

Rivalries between European Rivalries between European nations make it easier for African nations make it easier for African kings to play them against each kings to play them against each otherother

Slaves Slaves on a Shipon a Ship

Kingdoms in West AfricaKingdoms in West Africa

Some kingdoms try to Some kingdoms try to resist slave trade – Beninresist slave trade – Benin

- old, wealthy kingdom in modern day old, wealthy kingdom in modern day NigeriaNigeria

- King controlled trade, forbade export of King controlled trade, forbade export of male slavesmale slaves

- Exports cotton cloth and peppersExports cotton cloth and peppers

- Becomes involved in slave trade after Becomes involved in slave trade after exports declineexports decline

Some kingdoms and areas disintegrated Some kingdoms and areas disintegrated

because of the slave trade – Oyo and Kongobecause of the slave trade – Oyo and Kongo, , Bight Of BiafraBight Of Biafra

Small scale societies lack protection, affected severly Small scale societies lack protection, affected severly (Bight of Biafra, Angola)(Bight of Biafra, Angola)

Kidnapping major source of slaves, also criminals, Kidnapping major source of slaves, also criminals, povertypoverty

Portuguese control larger territory (Luanda), Other Portuguese control larger territory (Luanda), Other ports controlled by African kingsports controlled by African kings

Portuguese involved in overland slave tradePortuguese involved in overland slave trade Armed conflicts increase in region Armed conflicts increase in region most slaves from Angola prisoners of war, often most slaves from Angola prisoners of war, often

hundreds of miles awayhundreds of miles away Refugees sometimes taken in by African kings, Refugees sometimes taken in by African kings,

women and children could stay, men sold into slaverywomen and children could stay, men sold into slavery

Some kingdoms become Some kingdoms become actively involved in the slave actively involved in the slave trade – Dahomeytrade – Dahomey

- Arose in early 18th centuryArose in early 18th century

- Authoritarian state (unusual for Africa)Authoritarian state (unusual for Africa)

- Tried to limit slave trade for awhileTried to limit slave trade for awhile

- Need of firearms leads to vigorous slave Need of firearms leads to vigorous slave tradetrade

- Use firearms to conquer neighboring Use firearms to conquer neighboring kingdoms (Oyo)kingdoms (Oyo)

Slaves mostly prisoners of warSlaves mostly prisoners of war ““I cannot make war to catch slaves I cannot make war to catch slaves

in the bush like a thief. But if I fight in the bush like a thief. But if I fight a king….then certainly I must have a king….then certainly I must have his gold, and his slaves, and his his gold, and his slaves, and his people are mine too.”people are mine too.”

Slaves have opportunity to gain Slaves have opportunity to gain freedomfreedom

Slave trade to Muslim CountriesSlave trade to Muslim Countries Slave trade part of Trans-Sahara trade Slave trade part of Trans-Sahara trade

since ancient timessince ancient times In 1591 Morocco defeated empire of In 1591 Morocco defeated empire of

SonghaySonghay Slave trade between West Africa and Slave trade between West Africa and

Morocco increasedMorocco increased Besides slaves salt, gold, forest Besides slaves salt, gold, forest

products exported for weapons, products exported for weapons, hardware, textileshardware, textiles

Slaves in Muslim world mostly used Slaves in Muslim world mostly used as household slaves, also as slave as household slaves, also as slave soldiers and only few on sugar soldiers and only few on sugar plantationsplantations

More women and children (eunuchs) More women and children (eunuchs) traded than across Atlantictraded than across Atlantic

Between 1500 and 1800 about 2 Between 1500 and 1800 about 2 million slaves exported from Africa to million slaves exported from Africa to Muslim countriesMuslim countries

Economic ImpactEconomic Impact Goods received by Africans did not Goods received by Africans did not

promote economic developmentpromote economic development New foods (corn, manioc) provide better New foods (corn, manioc) provide better

food supply in Africa food supply in Africa Mostly beneficial for small African eliteMostly beneficial for small African elite European merchants benefit the mostEuropean merchants benefit the most Profits gained by plantation owners fuel Profits gained by plantation owners fuel

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution Overall 10 millions slaves exported Overall 10 millions slaves exported

between 1500 and 1850between 1500 and 1850

Cultural ImpactCultural Impact Life on plantations about 7 yearsLife on plantations about 7 years Not much mixing of races in North Not much mixing of races in North

AmericaAmerica Large mulatto population in many parts of Large mulatto population in many parts of

South America (Cuba, Caribbean, Brazil, South America (Cuba, Caribbean, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela)Columbia, Venezuela)

African foods, religious views, musicAfrican foods, religious views, music Maroons: run-away slaves, form Maroons: run-away slaves, form

communities in the junglecommunities in the jungle

Vodun, CandombleVodun, Candomble

Syncretic religions in the Americas Syncretic religions in the Americas founded by slavesfounded by slaves

Mixed Christian and African religious Mixed Christian and African religious beliefsbeliefs

Vodun(Caribbean): supreme deity Vodun(Caribbean): supreme deity (Christian), lesser gods (African)(Christian), lesser gods (African)

Candomble (Brazil): polytheistic, but Candomble (Brazil): polytheistic, but gods have the names and appearances gods have the names and appearances of Christian saintsof Christian saints

Worship and beliefsWorship and beliefs

- Witchcraft, falling into trance like Witchcraft, falling into trance like state, male and female priests, state, male and female priests, sacrifice of animalssacrifice of animals

- Candomble temples looked often - Candomble temples looked often like churches with crosses and like churches with crosses and statues of saints to avoid statues of saints to avoid persecutionpersecution

Candomble Worshippers Candomble Worshippers from Brazilfrom Brazil

XapanãXapanãCandomble worshipper Candomble worshipper acting as a royal spirit acting as a royal spirit from the Dambirá family.from the Dambirá family.

Candomblé practitioners Candomblé practitioners revere nature, and revere nature, and worship the spirits that are worship the spirits that are found in trees, plants and found in trees, plants and other natural things. other natural things. However, ancestor However, ancestor worship forms a large part worship forms a large part of Candomblé practice. of Candomblé practice. Past ancestors are Past ancestors are venerated and deified.venerated and deified.