Transcript Holt African American History Chapter 2

Holt African American History
Chapter 2
The Institution of Slavery
Slavery’s Origins
Other Functions
• Practice did not start with
Europeans; common since
ancient times
• Skilled workers—musicians,
weavers, carpenters
• Slaves used for manual
labor—physical work done
by hand
• Slaves vital form of cheap
labor; tended crops, built
temples, worked on farms, in
mines and on construction
projects
• Muslim rulers trained slaves
as professional soldiers
• In ancient Rome, educated
slaves served as teachers
• Others featured in theaters
and gladiator competitions
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
The Treatment of Slaves
• Slaves considered property of owners in all societies; their
treatment varied greatly
• Slavery not based on race
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
Manumission
Freeing Slaves
• In ancient times, not uncommon for slaves to be freed
• Act of manumission practiced around the world
• Freeing slave considered honorable act
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
Africa and the Slave Trade
Slavery in Africa
• Institution existed for many
centuries
• Practiced by small kingdoms
and great empires
Muslims
Sign of Wealth
• First entered Africa in 600s
• Expanded African slave trade;
captured or purchased Africans
from local rulers
• Traded all over Muslim world
• Served as household servants,
agricultural workers; crew
members, pearl divers
• 18 million slaves exchanged
from AD 650 to 1905
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
European Contact with Africa
• Muslim merchants traded slaves throughout Asia and
Africa, not Europe
• Period of great discovery during 1400s and 1500s
– Interest in trade and adventure led to exploration
– Reasons included
• adventure and fame
• spread of Christianity
• hope of wealth from trade
– Trade expeditions launched; lure of spices, jewels, and silks
– Africa was target for exploration
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
Africans and Europeans Trade for Slaves
Portuguese soon learned great wealth to be found in selling African
captives as slaves in European markets. With European settlement of
the Americas in 1500s, demand for labor skyrocketed.
Portuguese trade
Cheap labor
Methods changed
• Among first in
Europe to take part
• Planters islands in
Atlantic eager for
cheap labor
• No longer content
to raid villages;
turned to trade with
local African rulers
• First large-scale
shipment of slaves
arrived in Portugal
in 1444
• Triggered
increased interest
• Wealthy Europeans
sought slaves as
domestic servants
• 50,000 African slaves
in Europe by 1500
• Horses, cloth, or
grain for prisoners
of war; established
treaties with kings
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
Europeans Send Slaves to the Americas
Importation of slaves to Americas minor, but profitable enterprise
• 1400s no great European demand for cheap manual labor
– But Spain, Portugal, and others expanded into the Americas
– Demand for slave labor soared
• Christopher Columbus
– Voyages of 1492 set off wave of European colonization
– Explorers attracted to wealth of resources in “New World”
– Riches to be found in gold, silver; crops of sugarcane, tobacco
– Mines and plantations (huge farms) established
• Required enormous amount of labor
– Needed to collect and process raw materials
– Initially used Native Americans as forced labor
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
Resistance
Native peoples
• Growing resistance to enslavement
• Rapidly decreasing native populations
• Europeans forced to look elsewhere
Solution
• Look to African slaves—unlike Native Americans, African slaves resistant to
European diseases and could not successfully hide after escaping
• Familiar with farming methods; already worked as reliable laborers in Europe
Atlantic slave trade
• 1502 first black slaves imported to the Caribbean Americas by Portuguese
• First in small numbers, but growing demand led to active trade
• System of slaves from Africa to the Americas known as Atlantic slave trade
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
The Journey to the Americas
Middle Passage
Capture
• Most profitable leg of triangular
trade; slaves transported from
Africa to the Americas
• Millions were captured and
enslaved; sent to Americas
• Search began on West African
coast; majority of slaves
shipped from there
• European slave traders did not
capture slaves directly
Trading posts
Enslavement
• Obtained slaves from local
middlemen at coastal trading
posts, who got slaves from local
rulers in African interior
• Rulers received various goods
• After exchange captives
chained and marched to trading
posts like Gorée Island and
Elmina; there they waited to be
chosen for shipment
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
Effects of the Slave Trade
Impact on Africa
African kingdoms
• Human cost great
• 10 million to 12 million Africans
shipped to the Americas
• More died on forced marches,
on board ships, or resisting
• Entire communities devastated
• Wars common among rival
kingdoms to win captives
• Economically dependent on
European goods
Impact on the Americas
African diaspora
• Slaves played vital role in
settlement of many areas,
especially Brazil, the Caribbean
• Filled labor needs and helped
strengthen colonial economies
• Another result was spread of
African culture and traditions
• Scattering of Africans called
African diaspora
• Music, art, and religion spread
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
Holt African American History
Chapter 2
African Culture in the Americas
• Africans played crucial role in development of American culture
– Slaves continued to practice their African traditions and customs
– Over time traditions blended with European and native culture to create
unique culture of Americas
• Influence on music and food
– Brazilian capoeira, a blend of dance and martial arts, from Angolan slaves
– African musical instruments included the marimba, the banjo, and various
types of drums
– African foods include New Orleans Creole, a blend of African, Caribbean,
and European cooking
• Influence on religion and language
– Slaves blended African religious beliefs with Christian ones
– Mixed languages as shown in Haiti and Louisiana
• Great cultural diversity of Americas was the result