AFRICA 1600- 1750
Economic, Political & Social Changes
Central Question
How did slavery influence Africa?
ECOMONIC CHANGES
Africa
Economy
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Silver & sugar
Participated in world economy through slave trade
Slave trade traced back to 15th century, rose in 17th
and 18th centuries
Grafted onto existing system of slave commerce
2 Africans for every 1 European  essential to
prosperity of American colonies
Economy
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Merchants shipped slaves around Indian Ocean
More slaves sent to Americas once plantation
agriculture began to spread
W. flow=12 million survived forcible enslavement/
shipment to Atlantic ports 1440s-1867
Merchant capitalists prospered slave trade rose
Economy
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Commercial fortune depended on alliances with
African trading & Political networks
African partners/ commercial networks left to
capture slaves
High morality = losses of profits
Merchants-active role in supplying slaves for
transatlantic shipment
Shift=Households that commanded large animal
herds or land  urban merchants and warrior elites
SOCIAL CHANGES
Africa
Religion

Asante (Ashanti)
 Universal
god – Onyame
 Kingdom of the Dead –
Samande
 Ancestor Worship

Benin
 Polytheistic
 Power
of witches
 Mostly Christian
 About ¼ Islam;
 Vudun or “voodoo”
Language
Misconception: there was no written language
until recently
 Asante
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Decedents of Akan Tribes
Various forms of Twi; tone language
Benin
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Learned written and spoken language from the Portuguese
Native Language Kwa
Dress&Customs

Women Influence
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Ashanti
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Weaving (only men)
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Different patterns
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Matrilineal
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Gold
Benin

Bronze art

Funerals = Important part of someone’s history
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Drummers and dancers perform at funerals
POLITICAL CHANGES
Africa
Political
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Dutch armada of 21
ships
Captured Luanda,
Benguela, and Sao
Tome from Portuguese
1623, Portuguese
signed a treaty with
Ndongo
Political
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1624, Nzinga became Queen of Ndongo
Conquered kingdom of Matamba in war with
Portuguese
Made alliance with Dutch
Dutch sent her soldiers
Queen Nzinga
Political
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Portuguese gained strength back
Portuguese drove Dutch out of Luanda in 1648
Dutch no longer helped
Nzinga could fight Portuguese anymore
Signed treaty giving Portuguese access to
Matamba’s markets
Video: Verbalizm: David J
Primary Source
Those sold by the Blacks are for the most part prisoners of war,
taken either in fight, or pursuit, or in the incursions they make
into their enemies territories; others stolen away by their own
countrymen; and some there are, who will sell their own
children, kindred, or neighbors. This has been often seen,
and to compass it, they desire the person they intend to sell,
to help them in carrying something to the factory by way of
trade, and when there, the person so deluded, not
understanding the language, is old and deliver'd up as a
slave, notwithstanding all his resistance, and exclaiming
against the treachery....
Written by John Barbot (an agent for the French Royal African Company) in 1678
Questions
1.
2.
1.
Based on this passage what do you think about the
family bonds in Africa?
Do you think anybody make alliances with the
Dutch after they let Queen Nzinga down?
How do you think the shift of wealth to urban
merchants and warrior elites effected the rest of
society?
WORKS CITED
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“Ancient Africa for Kids .” MrDonn. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://africa.mrdonn.org/benin.html>.
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“Ancient Clothing .” History for Kids . N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. <http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/clothing/ >.
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“Ashanti .” Ashanti . Jay INC , n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.ashanti.com.au/pb/wp_8078438f.html>.
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“Benin Religion Benin Beliefs.” Over Landing Africa . N.p., 2009 . Web. 20 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.overlandingafrica.com/benin/religion/>.
Blauer, Ettagale, V L Giddings, and Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler. “Clothing of African Cultures.” Fashion Encyclopedia. N.p., 1999. Web.
18 Oct. 2010. <http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/fashion_costume_culture/Early-Cultures-African/Clothing-of-African-Cultures.html
>.
“West Africa .” The Islamic World to 1600 . The University of Calgary, 1998. Web. 18 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/fractured/westAfrica.html>.
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Zahid, Ishaq. “Five Pillars of Islam .” Islam 101. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. <http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html >.
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“Languages of Africa .” Wikipedia . N.p., 9 Oct. 2010. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Africa>.
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Matt. “Africa Religions .” Slide Share. N.p., 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. <http://www.slideshare.net/matt/africa-religions-presentation >.
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Scribner, Charles. “Christianity in Africa .” Novel Guide . N.p., 2002 . Web. 18 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/aes_01/aes_01_00085.html>. “Trade and the Spread of Islam In Africa .” Met Museum .
Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas , Oct. 2001. Web. 18 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tsis/hd_tsis.htm >.
West, April. “Ashanti Culture .” MNSU. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/africa/ashanti_culture.html>.
Tignor, Robert, et al. Worlds Together Worlds Apart. New York City: W.W. Norton & Company, 2008. Print.
John Barbot, "A Description of the Coasts of North and South Guinea," in Thomas Astley and John Churchill, eds., Collection of Voyages
and Travels (London, 1732).
Smitha, Frank Eugene. "Queen Nzinga." Marohistory and World Report. N.p., 17 Oct. 2001. Web. 21 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h28af3-3.htm>.