Section 4 Turbulent Centuries in Africa

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Section 4 Turbulent Centuries in Africa

• Setting the Scene
• Enslaved Africans formed part of an international
  trade network that arose during the first global
  age. Encounters between Europeans and Africans
  had been taking place since the 1400s. Africa was
  home to diverse societies, and Islam had become
  an important force in some parts of the
  continent. As Europeans arrived, they would bring
  their own influences to Africa.

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I. European Outposts in Africa

• 1500s - the Portuguese built forts along the
  African coast for trade, re-supply, and repair

Fort Anthony (Axim) Portuguese trading post,
1502. Destroyed by the towns people in 1514.
Second fort built by the Portuguese on present
site in 1515
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I. European Outposts in Africa

• The Dutch, English, and French established forts
  and traded for gold, ivory, and slaves

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II. The Atlantic Slave Trade

• 1500s - Europeans view slaves as the most
  important item of African trade

The king of Portugal sent ambassadors to
negotiate government-to-government commercial
treaties with African countries like the Kongo,
as shown in this image
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II. The Atlantic Slave Trade

• African slavers seized captives in the interior
  and brought them to coastal trading posts

Slave Coffle From Susanne Everett The Slaves A
group of animals, prisoners, or slaves chained
together in a line
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A. Triangular Trade

• Atlantic slave trade formed one part of a network
  known as triangular trade

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A. Triangular Trade

• On the first leg, merchant ships brought goods to
  Africa to be traded for slaves

Gate of No ReturnCape Coast Castle, Ghana
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A. Triangular Trade

• Slaves were sent to the West Indies and exchanged
  for sugar, molasses, and other products

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A. Triangular Trade

• On the final leg, products were shipped to Europe
  or colonies in the Americas

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B. Horrors of the Middle Passage
This plan of a slave ship shows how 482 slaves
could be packed on board for the 5 to 10 week
voyage to the West Indies. The Brookes actually
carried 609 slaves on one voyage.
Body Positions of Slaves on the Slave Ship Aurore
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B. Horrors of the Middle Passage

• Hundreds of enslaved Africans were packed below
  the decks of slave ships

Packed into slave ships, captives were called
piezas de Indias Indies pieces. This was
supposed to mean that they met a standard size,
being large enough to work hard. If an individual
was not tall enough, the space could be "pieced
out" by adding a child.
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B. Horrors of the Middle Passage

• Slave ships became "floating coffins" - up to 50
  died from disease or brutal mistreatment

Africans being forced to 'dance for exercise
Punishment Aboard a Slave Ship, 1792
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B. Horrors of the Middle Passage

• Some Africans resisted, others committed suicide
  by leaping overboard

Africans taking control of La Amistad
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C. Impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade

• 10 million Africans were sent to the Americas and
  up to 2 million more died in route

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C. Impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade

• Some small African states disappeared and new
  slave trading states emerged

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III. Rise of New African States

• The Asante traded gold and slaves for firearms
  and protected their interests by playing off
  rival Europeans against one another

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III. Rise of New African States

• An Islamic revival began with the Fulani people -
  Usman dan Fodio inspired uprisings against
  corrupt Hausa rulers

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III. Rise of New African States

• An Islamic state was established based on the
  Sharia - literacy increased, local wars quieted,
  and trade improved

The Grand Mosque of Djenné, the largest mud
building in the world
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IV. Battles for Power in Southern Africa

• 1652 - Dutch Boers arrived in southern Africa and
  built Cape Town

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IV. Battles for Power in Southern Africa

• 1815 - Cape Colony passed to the British Boers
  resented new laws that interfered in their way of
  life

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IV. Battles for Power in Southern Africa

• 1830s - Boers migrated north in what became known
  as the "Great Trek'

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IV. Battles for Power in Southern Africa

• 1818 to 1828 Shaka, a ruthless and brilliant
  Zulu leader, conquered and united many peoples,
  creating the Zulu kingdom

Shaka (sometimes spelled Tshaka, Tchaka or Chaka
1787 1828) was the most influential leader of
the Zulu Empire.
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IV. Battles for Power in Southern Africa

• After Shaka's was assassinated by his half
  brother Dingane, the Zulus fought Boers migrating
  north

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IV. Battles for Power in Southern Africa

• At first, the Zulus held their own but in the
  end, Zulu spears could not defeat Boer guns

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IV. Battles for Power in Southern Africa

• The struggle for control of the land would rage
  until the end of the century