2. Slave Trade
The capture of Africans for enslavement became a
thriving business.
Both African and European Powers were involved.
Scholars argue that shipment of human cargo was
expensive but the cost was deferred by Europeans who
made profit on the other end of the Trade route.
Up to 1807 when the Slave Trade ended in the British
West Indies; slave prices never rose for them to turn to
other sources of labour.
It is estimated that initially 8 million Africans were taken
from Africa to the Caribbean and South America to work
under slavery.
3. Slave Trade in Africa
From Senegambia down to the Bight of Biafra
and from Niger Delta to Angola existed a string
of Baracoons.
Slaves were captured from the hinterlands and
taken to the Baracoons.
Baracoons such as Fort Elmina, Accra, James
Fort, and Winneba Fort were places where
Africans enslaved were housed until the date of
transhipment.
4. Triangular Slave Trade
Portuguese 1515 – 1580
Dutch 1600 – 1670
French 1670 – 1713
English 1713 – 1807
Please note these dates are when the
various European Powers legitimized
slavery.
5.
6. Slave Exports
1701 – 1810 Slave Exports from Africa by
the leading European powers were:
France – 613,100
Portugal – 611,000
English – 2,009,700
Noel Deer states about 2 million came to
the British Caribbean. It is not surprising
that others like Phillip Curtin stated it was
1. 6 million.
7. Landed Slaves in the British West Indies .
Jamaica – 747, 500 (88,000 imported
between 1655 – 1702.)
Barbados – 387,000 (288, 200 imported
between 1600 – 1800.)
8. Landed Slaves in the French West Indies.
Martinique – 365, 800
Saint Domingue (Haiti) – 864, 300 up to
1791.
9. How many really came?
There is a continuous Debate over how
many Africans were taken to the Americas
by the Europeans in the Slave Trade.
Phillip Curtin (1969) estimated that 9.6
million were exported in 1701 – 1810.
inclusive of 15% Mortality on the Middle
Passage.
The figure given by the Abolitionists seem
way out i.e. 15 – 25 million.
10. New researchers have revised Phillip
Curtin’s figures upwards. Most accept a
upper limit of 12 million ( Lovejoy, Becker,
Palmer).
Inikori adjusted the figures of Curtin
upwards by 40% to 15.4 million while still
admitting that this might still be an
underestimation.
11. Why?
Degree of smuggling – Private traders
were outlawed in Preference to monopoly
companies. This meant under reporting
was most likely.
Inadequate Record Keeping during the
early periods of the Slave Trade.
12. Sexual Disparity
More males were shipped across the
Atlantic than females. Creates imbalance
in West Africa.
In the Dutch slave trade between 1675
and 1795 just over 34,000 men; 18,000
women; 6,000 boys and approx. 3,000
girls were stolen from Africa. Females
comprised 30% of those exported to the
Americas by the Dutch.
13. Sexual Disparity cont’d.
English Traders traded 38% females
Danish Traders traded 36% females
Possible Explanations
• Planters preferred male workers – stronger
• Internal African market was competitive i.e.
competition for female slaves in Africa and the
Muslim World – Trans Saharan Trade.
• High Prices for women was the result.
14. Once Captive arrived in the Caribbean
how were they organised for labour?
Barry Higman (1976) of all the
demographic characteristics in
consideration . Slaves for occupation age
was the fundamental factor.
Colour and gender, origin would be
secondary.
The Tasks in the field were exclusive for
gender, age and fitness were rather
important.
15. Statistics
Worthy Park estate in Jamaica 1790: 58%
of the field workers comprised females.
Mesopotamia Estate: 1800s 2/3rd
of the
field labour force comprised females.
