Exploration in Exploration in AfricaAfrica

I. I. The Age of EuropeanThe Age of EuropeanExploration & Exploration & ColonizationColonization

Western European countries expand Western European countries expand during 15th centuryduring 15th century Explore, conquer, and colonizeExplore, conquer, and colonize TradeTrade

Eastern markets of India, China, and Eastern markets of India, China, and JapanJapan

New WorldNew WorldDemand for laborers led to Atlantic Demand for laborers led to Atlantic

slave tradeslave trade

II. The Slave Trade in AfricaII. The Slave Trade in Africa African kingdoms and African kingdoms and

Islamic nations conduct brisk Islamic nations conduct brisk commercecommerceNot race basedNot race based

Arab merchants and West Arab merchants and West African kings imported African kings imported white slaves from Europewhite slaves from Europe

The Slave Trade in Africa CONTThe Slave Trade in Africa CONTWest African slave trade dealt West African slave trade dealt

mainly in women and children mainly in women and children who would serve as who would serve as concubines and servantsconcubines and servantsEuropean demand for European demand for agricultural laborers changed agricultural laborers changed slave trading patternsslave trading patterns

III. Growth of the III. Growth of the Atlantic Slave TradeAtlantic Slave Trade

Demand for labor in 16th Demand for labor in 16th centurycentury

Spanish gold and silver Spanish gold and silver minesmines

Portuguese sugar Portuguese sugar plantationsplantations

Tobacco, rice and indigoTobacco, rice and indigo

The Atlantic Slave Trade: Where?

5%

60%

35%

65%

30%

5%

Estimated Slave Imports by Destination, Estimated Slave Imports by Destination, 1451–18701451–1870

TRIANGLE TRADETRIANGLE TRADE

Molasses

Africa

North America

Rum, and

Weapons

The Caribbea

nSlave

s

In this late-eighteenth-century drawing, African slave traders In this late-eighteenth-century drawing, African slave traders conduct a group of bound captives from the interior of Africa toward conduct a group of bound captives from the interior of Africa toward European trading posts. European trading posts.

SOURCE: Culver Pictures, Inc.

The African-American Ordeal The African-American Ordeal from Capture to Destination from Capture to Destination

(cont.)(cont.) High mortalityHigh mortality

Exhaustion, suicide, murderExhaustion, suicide, murder Long, forced marches from interior Long, forced marches from interior

to coast to coast

Factories served as Factories served as Headquarters for tradersHeadquarters for traders Warehouses for trade goodsWarehouses for trade goods Pens or dungeons for captivesPens or dungeons for captives

The CrossingThe Crossing Canary Islands to the Canary Islands to the

Windward IslandsWindward Islands 40 to 180 days to reach the 40 to 180 days to reach the

CaribbeanCaribbean Pirates attacked Spanish shipsPirates attacked Spanish ships Frightening experienceFrightening experience

Economicreasonseven upuntil the1800’s.

New Yorkdocks.

Shipping rates fell from $25 per ton in the early 1850’s, to $11 in 1857.

Increased domestic manufacturing lessened the need for overseas imports.

The ships also began aging, and required more money to be properly maintained.

There was a glut of sail in the late 1850’s, and ship-owners were eager to make money any way they could.

The SlaversThe Slavers

Small and narrow Small and narrow shipsships

Most captains were Most captains were “tight packers” “tight packers” Ignored formula in the Ignored formula in the

name of profitsname of profits

The Slavers (cont.)The Slavers (cont.) Crowded, unsanitary conditionsCrowded, unsanitary conditions

Slaves rode on planks 66” x 15” Slaves rode on planks 66” x 15” only 20”– 25” of headroomonly 20”– 25” of headroom

Chained in pairs Chained in pairs High mortality ratesHigh mortality rates

One-third perish between capture and One-third perish between capture and embarkationembarkation

Provi

sions =

trou

ble

3’3”

British Slave ShipBritish Slave ShipPlan of the British Slave Ship Plan of the British Slave Ship BrookesBrookes, 1788. This plan, which , 1788. This plan, which may undercount the human may undercount the human cargo the cargo the BrookesBrookes carried, carried, shows how tightly Africans shows how tightly Africans were packed aboard slave were packed aboard slave ships.ships.

Provisions for the Middle PassageProvisions for the Middle Passage Slaves fed twice per daySlaves fed twice per day

Poor and insufficient dietPoor and insufficient dietVegetable pulps, stews, and Vegetable pulps, stews, and

fruits fruits Denied meat or fishDenied meat or fishTen people eating in one Ten people eating in one

bucketbucketUnwashed hands spread Unwashed hands spread

diseasediseaseMalnutrition, weakness, Malnutrition, weakness,

depression, deathdepression, death

The diseased were thrown overboard.

Sanitation, Disease, Sanitation, Disease, and Deathand Death

AstAstronomically high before 1750ronomically high before 1750 Poor sanitationPoor sanitation

No germ theoryNo germ theory Malaria, yellow fever, smallpox, Malaria, yellow fever, smallpox,

dysenterydysentery

African Women on SlaversAfrican Women on Slavers Less protection against Less protection against

unwanted sexual attention from unwanted sexual attention from European menEuropean men

African women worth half the African women worth half the price of African men in the price of African men in the Caribbean marketsCaribbean markets

Separation from male slaves Separation from male slaves made them easier targetsmade them easier targets

VI. Landing and Sale in VI. Landing and Sale in the West Indiesthe West IndiesPre-salePre-saleBathed and exercisedBathed and exercisedOiled bodies to conceal Oiled bodies to conceal blemishes and bruisesblemishes and bruises

Hemp plugsHemp plugs

VII. Seasoning VII. Seasoning CreolesCreoles

slaves born in the Americas slaves born in the Americas worth three times price of unseasoned worth three times price of unseasoned

AfricansAfricans Old AfricansOld Africans

Lived in the Americas for some timeLived in the Americas for some time

New AfricansNew Africans Had just survived the middle passageHad just survived the middle passage

CreolesCreoles and Old and Old Africans instruct Africans instruct New AfricansNew Africans

Seasoning Cont Seasoning Cont Slaves seasoned in Barbados Slaves seasoned in Barbados Worked out to see if they could Worked out to see if they could

handle the new climate, and handle the new climate, and environment environment

Work day and Night in slave camps Work day and Night in slave camps Than were sold and shipped to Than were sold and shipped to

parts of the Caribbean and the parts of the Caribbean and the Americas Americas

VIII. The End of JourneyVIII. The End of Journey Survival Survival

One-third died One-third died Men died at a greater rate than womenMen died at a greater rate than women

Adapted to new foodsAdapted to new foods Learned a new languageLearned a new language Psychological ~ no longer suicidalPsychological ~ no longer suicidal

Africans retained culture despite the Africans retained culture despite the hardships and cruel treatmenthardships and cruel treatment

Created bonds with shipmates that Created bonds with shipmates that replaced blood kinshipreplaced blood kinship

IX. The Ending of the IX. The Ending of the Atlantic Slave TradeAtlantic Slave Trade

Cruelties help end Atlantic slave tradeCruelties help end Atlantic slave trade Great Britain bans Atlantic slave trade in Great Britain bans Atlantic slave trade in

1807 1807 Patrols African coast to enforce Patrols African coast to enforce

United states congress outlaws slave United states congress outlaws slave trade in 1808trade in 1808

Guinea and western central African Guinea and western central African kingdoms oppose banning slave tradekingdoms oppose banning slave trade

ConclusionConclusion

Nine to eleven million Africans brought to Nine to eleven million Africans brought to the Americas during three centuries of the Americas during three centuries of tradetrade Millions more diedMillions more died Most arrived between 1701 and 1810Most arrived between 1701 and 1810 Only 600,000 reached the British Only 600,000 reached the British

colonies of north Americacolonies of north America

Consequences of the Consequences of the Atlantic Slave TradeAtlantic Slave Trade

In Africa, numerous cultures lost generations of In Africa, numerous cultures lost generations of their strongest members, both men and their strongest members, both men and women.women.

The slave trade introduced guns to the African The slave trade introduced guns to the African continentcontinent

African slaves contributed greatly to the African slaves contributed greatly to the cultural and economic development of the cultural and economic development of the Americas.Americas.

Africans brought their culture to the AmericasAfricans brought their culture to the Americas