The Atlantic Slave Trade

1. The Atlantic Slave Trade Mr. Barchetto Notes #4

2. European Outposts in Africa • What European country did we discuss explored West Africa for a sea route to India? • Portugal • What was the purpose of the outposts that the Portuguese set up? • Built small forts along the coast • Traded gold, collected food/water, & repaired ships • Took over the thriving trade network from the Arabs • The Dutch, the English & the French established forts as well

3. 1500’s Changes in Africa… • 1500s: Europeans began to: • View slaves as the most important item to trade • Relied on African rulers and traders to seize captives • Traded for textiles, metalwork, rum, tobacco, weapons, and gun powder • The Atlantic Slave Trade was born! (Triangular Trade)

4. Motives for African Slaves • Why were Africans needed in the new world? • Europeans needed a larger work force to work plantations, in the mines and on the ranches. • What was happening to the Native Americans? Why? • Native Americans were dying at an unbelievable rate. • Natives had no natural immunities to European diseases. • Why were Africans viewed as the perfect source of labor? • Africans were use to the warm climate and difficult work. • Africans were exposed to and developed immunities to European disease. • Africans new little about the new land and were less likely to flee captivity.

5. The Triangular Trade Route

6. Horrors of the Middle Passage • What was the Middle Passage? • This was the long 3 month trip slaves endured across the Atlantic from Africa to the New World • Read excerpt from…. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano