Africa: Pre-colonization, Colonization, Independence

Journal

If I were the teacher, I would….

Atlantic Slave Trade

In the 1400s, Prince Henry of Portugal began an initiative to seek out direct sea routes to gain access to the gold trade in West Africa, as well as trade in Asia.

Hoped to find sea route to Asia by sailing around coast of Africa.

What began as a quest for trade in gold and spices ended up becoming a trade network exporting African slaves, which would continue for more than 400 years.

Kongo Kingdom—a form of slavery existed prior to Portuguese contact. The Portuguese tapped into this system.

However, Portuguese had a large impact on Kongo Kingdom through increased pressure to capture more people for the Atlantic Slave Trade. This led to the exportation of large numbers of Kongolese over many years.

How the Slave Trade Worked http://history.howstuffworks.com/287

00-assignment-discovery-slave-trade-video.htm

The End of the Atlantic Slave Trade 1804--Haiti because the first black

republic in the world and the first country in the western hemisphere to abolish slavery.

1807—Britain is first European nations to ban slave trade. France, Holland, and U.S. follow soon after.

400+ years of slave trade changed the country of Africa. However, during this time, progress was still made by the African people.

Intro to Colonization of Africa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C

M2Xa12YsX0

Colonial Exploration of Africa Colonialism—occupation and control

of one nation by another. European nations colonized Africa

from the late 19th century until the mid-to-late 20th century.

Although they had contact with parts of Africa prior to this time period, they did not impost a formal rule over Africa until this time.

Colonial Exploration of Africa 19th century Europe was industrializing.

Factories required raw materials and Europe sought a source and market in Africa.

Competition between countries rose due to nationalism (pride in one’s country).

This competition led to the “Scramble for Africa”, which resulted in the colonization of Africa in just 25 years!

Europeans saw themselves as the most advanced in the world and sought to “civilize” and “enlighten” the rest of the world.

Colonization and Christianity Colonization coincided with the expansion

of Christian missionary activity in Africa. Sources suggest that many missionaries

opposed the harsher aspects of colonialism, but were supportive of the colonization of African countries. Missionaries who supported colonialism

believed that European control would provide a political environment that would increasingly supportive of missionary activity and Christianity in Africa.

Colonization of Africa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pis5f085P3M

Your Homework

Read and annotate excerpt from King Leopold’s Ghost. See annotation guide for suggestions! Due Tuesday, September 24th!

WHY ANNOTATE?▪ It keeps you awake—not only conscious, but wide

awake!▪ Reading is active! ▪ Writing down your thoughts and reactions helps you

remember!