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West African Kingdoms and Their Trade Networks
- 1. West African Kingdoms Mr. Scullion Erwin Middle School
- 2. The West African Kingdom We looked at the Americas yesterday, today we will study one other connection, The West African Kingdoms.
- 3. Life in an African Tribe Across the ocean from the Americas, on the western coast of Africa, people lived in societies that had much in common with Native American societies. West Africans believed in a wide range of spirits. Most of the people made their living from the land.
- 4. Africa’s Trade Network For centuries, West African kingdoms had been part of a vast trading network that stretched through Europe, India, and Asia. West Africans exported gold, copper, cloth, and spices. They became famous for their skills at weaving cloth, forging, iron, and crafting ornaments from copper and gold.
- 5. Africa’s Slave Trade West African kingdoms were usually ruled by a wealthy group of elites, who maintained their power by controlling trade. When Europeans became interested in the slave trade, these elites helped the Europeans take advantage of existing trade networks. This made it easy to acquire large numbers of enslaved West Africans.
- 6. Europe Vs Africa The Portuguese took the lead in ocean exploration. They sailed down Africa’s western coast looking for gold and spices. They claimed African islands as Portuguese territory. Although the main motive for exploration was economic, explorers used religion to justify their territorial claims. The Portuguese were Catholics, who believed all land belonged to God. At the time, most Catholics believed God’s representative on earth, the Pope, had the right to give lands governed by non- Christians to Christian rulers. Pope Nicholas V granted the Portuguese rights to all the land they found in return for a promise to convert the inhabitants. He also gave them permission to kill or enslave anyone who resisted Christianity. Pope Alexander VI gave similar rights to Spain in 1493.
- 7. Europe Vs Africa At first, the Portuguese thought they might be able to take over African kingdoms. But they quickly found that Africans had effective defenses. The king of Kongo could raise an army of 80,000 men. African ships were smaller than European ships, but they kept Europeans from sailing up the rivers that led to major cities. Africa also had a hidden weapon—disease. Africa was home to deadly tropical diseases that Europeans had never encountered. Thousands of European sailors died during their trips to Africa, and few survived long stays on the mainland. In the end, Europeans settled for trading in Africa instead of settling on the lands.
- 8. Europe Vs Africa & Tropical Disease
- 9. Europe and Africa Trade
- 10. Europe and Africa Trade Africans welcomed European trade. African leaders increased their prestige by distributing new European goods. For some rulers, Christianity also offered a new form of spiritual authority, which they added to their religious beliefs. Kongo king Nzinga Nkuma, for example, got baptized and adopted a new name in honor of the Portuguese monarch. The Portuguese purchased pepper from Benin, gold from the Gold Coast, and cloth and ivory from Kongo. They also bought a few enslaved Africans. Eventually, Portuguese sailors made their way around the tip of Africa and reached India. The new route gave Portugal access to the rich trading ports of India and Asia. Trade helped Portugal become a wealthy country.
Editor's Notes
- We looked at the Americas yesterday, today we will study one other connection, The West African Kingdoms.
- Across the ocean from the Americas, on the western coast of Africa, people lived in societies that had much in common with Native American societies. West Africans believed in a wide range of spirits. Most of the people made their living from the land.
- For centuries, West African kingdoms had been part of a vast trading network that stretched through Europe, India, and Asia. West Africans exported gold, copper, cloth, and spices. They became famous for their skills at weaving cloth, forging, iron, and crafting ornaments from copper and gold.
- West African kingdoms were usually ruled by a wealthy group of elites, who maintained their power by controlling trade. When Europeans became interested in the slave trade, these elites helped the Europeans take advantage of existing trade networks. This made it easy to acquire large numbers of enslaved West Africans.
- The Portuguese took the lead in ocean exploration. They sailed down Africa’s western coast looking for gold and spices. They claimed African islands as Portuguese territory. Although the main motive for exploration was economic, explorers used religion to justify their territorial claims. The Portuguese were Catholics, who believed all land belonged to God. At the time, most Catholics believed God’s representative on earth, the Pope, had the right to give lands governed by non-Christians to Christian rulers. Pope Nicholas V granted the Portuguese rights to all the land they found in return for a promise to convert the inhabitants. He also gave them permission to kill or enslave anyone who resisted Christianity. Pope Alexander VI gave similar rights to Spain in 1493. At first, the Portuguese thought they might be able to take over African kingdoms. But they quickly found that Africans had effective defenses. The king of Kongo could raise an army of 80,000 men. African ships were smaller than European ships, but they kept Europeans from sailing up the rivers that led to major cities. Africa also had a hidden weapon—disease. Africa was home to deadly tropical diseases that Europeans had never encountered. Thousands of European sailors died during their trips to Africa, and few survived long stays on the mainland. In the end, Europeans settled for trading in Africa instead of settling on the lands.
- The Portuguese took the lead in ocean exploration. They sailed down Africa’s western coast looking for gold and spices. They claimed African islands as Portuguese territory. Although the main motive for exploration was economic, explorers used religion to justify their territorial claims. The Portuguese were Catholics, who believed all land belonged to God. At the time, most Catholics believed God’s representative on earth, the Pope, had the right to give lands governed by non-Christians to Christian rulers. Pope Nicholas V granted the Portuguese rights to all the land they found in return for a promise to convert the inhabitants. He also gave them permission to kill or enslave anyone who resisted Christianity. Pope Alexander VI gave similar rights to Spain in 1493. At first, the Portuguese thought they might be able to take over African kingdoms. But they quickly found that Africans had effective defenses. The king of Kongo could raise an army of 80,000 men. African ships were smaller than European ships, but they kept Europeans from sailing up the rivers that led to major cities. Africa also had a hidden weapon—disease. Africa was home to deadly tropical diseases that Europeans had never encountered. Thousands of European sailors died during their trips to Africa, and few survived long stays on the mainland. In the end, Europeans settled for trading in Africa instead of settling on the lands.
- The Portuguese took the lead in ocean exploration. They sailed down Africa’s western coast looking for gold and spices. They claimed African islands as Portuguese territory. Although the main motive for exploration was economic, explorers used religion to justify their territorial claims. The Portuguese were Catholics, who believed all land belonged to God. At the time, most Catholics believed God’s representative on earth, the Pope, had the right to give lands governed by non-Christians to Christian rulers. Pope Nicholas V granted the Portuguese rights to all the land they found in return for a promise to convert the inhabitants. He also gave them permission to kill or enslave anyone who resisted Christianity. Pope Alexander VI gave similar rights to Spain in 1493. At first, the Portuguese thought they might be able to take over African kingdoms. But they quickly found that Africans had effective defenses. The king of Kongo could raise an army of 80,000 men. African ships were smaller than European ships, but they kept Europeans from sailing up the rivers that led to major cities. Africa also had a hidden weapon—disease. Africa was home to deadly tropical diseases that Europeans had never encountered. Thousands of European sailors died during their trips to Africa, and few survived long stays on the mainland. In the end, Europeans settled for trading in Africa instead of settling on the lands.
- In the end, Europeans settled for trading in Africa instead of settling on the lands.
- In the end, Europeans settled for trading in Africa instead of settling on the lands.