1) Europeans initially traded with West African kingdoms like Ghana and Mali for gold and other resources. However, the relationship shifted to one of enslavement as Europeans began capturing and forcibly transporting Africans across the Atlantic (known as the Middle Passage). 2) The Atlantic slave trade lasted from the 1500s to the 1800s. After it ended, European powers still sought to control Africa for its land and resources, dividing the continent among themselves through colonization. 3) The slave trade had devastating impacts on Africa, including depopulation as its healthiest people were taken, the halting of social and economic progress, and lasting effects from the division and rule of European colonial powers.

1. Lesson 3
Bellringer: Why would Europe want
to conquer Africa?

2. Review
• Kingdoms
• Empires
• City-States

3. House of Slaves

6. Door of No Return

7. Middle Passage

8. Atlantic Slave Trade
• The Atlantic slave trade began in the 1500's
– At first, Europe traded with the Northern
kingdoms of Ghana and Mali for gold and salt
– After the 1500's, the relationship changed
• Started as trade between equals
• It turned into enslavement and forced migration
(movement)

9. Atlantic Slave Trade
• The slave trade ended in the 1800's, but
Europe remained in Africa until recently
– Wanted their resources
– Divided up the continent

10. European Desire
• Portuguese explorers
began exploring Africa
in the 1400’s
– Trade directly with
Africa
– Technology in sailing

11. Power Shift
• At first they traded as
equals
– Gold, ivory, metal, pepper, c
opper, brass, and clothing
– Spread Christianity
• Soon the trade balance
shifted
– Portuguese sailors sailed
around the tip of Africa to
East Africa and seized the
city-states
– Controlled the trade along
the East African coast

12. The Rest of Europe Joins
• The Dutch, French, and
English soon followed;
set up trading posts
along the coasts
– Settlers moved in
– Spread out by force
– Poor relations with
Africans

13. Slavery in Africa
• Atlantic Slave Trade
– Slavery occurred in
Africa before the slave
trade, but under much
different
circumstances
• All civilizations had
slavery
• Africans would enslave
those they defeated in
battle
• Most slaves were freed

14. A New Kind of Slavery
• Europeans developed a new type of slavery
– Treated slaves like property
– Race-based slavery
– Took them away from their homeland
– No freedom

15. Slavery Grows
• Demand for slavery
increased as
European countries
set up colonies in
North and South
America
– Needed workers
on plantations
– Hard to escape
when you don’t
know where you
are
– 78,000 each year

16. Tragedy
• Horrors of slavery
– Captured Africans were branded with hot irons
– Laid side by side, stacked in ships with little food or
water
• Many died during this voyage, the Middle Passage
• Effects of Slavery
– Loss of an entire generation from West Africa
– Halted progress
• Lost youngest, healthiest people
• Skilled workers

17. End of Slavery
• After the slave trade ended, the horror didn’t
stop for Africa
– Europe raided Africa for its resources
– Built empires
– Used force and weapons to take over Africa

18. Problems for Africa
• European countries met and decided how
they would divide up Africa, or colonize it,
settle an area and take over the government
– Europe gained power by encouraging African
groups to fight with each other
– Took the best land to farm for themselves
– Drew new political boundaries which divided
ethnic groups and forced differing groups together
• Caused conflict later

19. Slave Narrative
Primary account of Middle Passage by Olaudah
Equiano.

20. Exit Card
What were some of the effects of slavery?

21. Timeline
– In pairs, make a timeline of African history to this
point
– Use notes
– No dates required, just put events in chronological
order