African-American History Midterm

Domestic Slave Trade

Because of cotton boom, slave use increases. Slaves moved from one part of the country to another because no more slaves allowed to be imported A system in which Southern slave-holders could easily sell and trade slaves all throughout the South. DST especially grew with the westward expansion of cotton, planters were selling their slaves West. Detrimental to black society; it was the largest dislocation in US history. Families torn apart. Emphasized that slaves were property. Naked inspections, slaves got good at hiding it so the owners would think they weren't getting to them.

Phillis Wheatley

Born about 1753 in west Africa Kidnapped into slavery at 7 Brought to Boston aboard the "Phillis" in 1761 Purchased by Boston couple john and Susannah Wheatley Taught herself how to read and write and was recognized as a prodigy Wrote many poems about religion, as elegies, and on classical themes Mistress helped her publish some of her poems in a book in London Send to London with Wheatleys son in 1773 to promote and get her book published In 1772 London passed a law stipulating that slaves couldn't be compelled to leave Britain to return to slavery in British colonies Granted her freedom in 1774 upon her return to the US Married a free black, John Peters and had 3 children Died 1784 Published no other book because publishers in the US refused her

West African Trade

(SEE BELOW)

NY Slave Rebellions 1712, 1741

* 1712 * New York had many slaves in a small location so that made communication easier * 23 slaves set fire to a building, killing 9 whites * 27 slaves were rounded up and executed for this * Slaves lived near free people and saw how they were being oppressed. * 1741: * This event might not have happened * Many houses set fire in a short amount of time and slaves were held responsible for these fires * The mass amount of fires caused whites to move and leave the city * Mary (a white teenage indentured servant) was offered freedom to say who caused the fires * She didn't know so she pointed her finger at random people, those people were then given a death sentence

Stono Rebellion, 1739

* 1739 in south carolina * A few slaves invaded a firearms store, stole a bunch of firearms and killed the two clerks * They marched down the street shooting any white person they saw * More african americans joined and then they all made a base/fort on top of a hill * It became a black vs white shoot out * 20 whites died, 30 slaves died, 30 slaves escaped and were later caught and killed * Negro Act- stopped blacks from being literate

Gabriel's Conspiracy

* A charismatic blacksmith named Gabriel, who was owned by Thomas Prosser, of Henrico County, planned to enter Richmond with force, capture the Capitol and the Virginia State Armory, and hold Governor James Monroe hostage to bargain for freedom for Virginia's slaves. The intensity of the storm delayed the conspirators' planned gathering, and a few nervous slaves told their masters of the plot. The arrests of the conspirators, including Gabriel, led to trials in Richmond, Petersburg, Norfolk, and several surrounding counties. The conspirators were tried in courts of oyer and terminer, established under a 1692 statute in which testimony was heard by five justices, not a jury, with appeal only to the governor. Twenty-six slaves were hanged, and another apparently committed suicide in his cell. Several convicted slaves were sold and transported out of Virginia. Two slaves, who had informed their masters about the intended rebellion, received their freedom.

Iberian Slave Trade

* Africans and people of African descent had already been present in the Americas for more than a century. Recent estimates suggest that by 1625, approximately 475,000 enslaved Africans had been involuntarily transported to the Spanish Americas and Brazil—more than the number of Africans who disembarked in British North America and the United States during the course of the entire transatlantic slave trade. Though most research on Africans' involuntary migration to the Americas focuses on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the roots of the transatlantic slave trade are much deeper, stretching back to Iberia (Spain and Portugal), Atlantic Africa, and Latin America during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries

Black Patriots (reasons for decision to fight for America and aftermath)

* At first, Washington didn't allow blacks to enlist in the Revolutionary War; whites were afraid of blacks having access to weapons, and encouraging slaves to revolt. * Washington realized there was no way they would be able to defeat Lord Dunmore, who had recruited lots of black, without more men (i.e. black men). * Maryland was the only state that traded black mens' freedom for their years in the army * In the other states though, most black men fought as a substitute for their masters, which more than likely led to their freedom (masters let them go). * Some black women also supported Patriot causes and followed their husbands

The Passage (Phases)

* Capture- - many of those captured would be the product of wars and the creation of -the centers of trade aka where many of those would be taken from included Senegambia, Sierra Leone, Oyo, Dahomey, and Benin -People were kidnapped and bound - People that wandered too far from tribes had greater risk of being stolen from community -Many slaves were purchased using Cowrie shells (imported from islands and major part of the African Economy) * Holding prisons -fortified structures called factories -where those who were destined for the passage would be held when they reached the coast -families and ethnic groups were split up to the best of the white man's capability to prevent rebellion -here was where the captives were inspected and branded * loading - the loading of Atlantic slave ships was a relatively long process it was often that enslaved african americans would have to wait weeks to months before the actual atlantic travel... millions of slaves died during the journey between the original tribes and the actual slave ships. * atlantic passage- The trip through the Atlantic took many months. * initial landing * permanent settlement/enslavement

Cowrie Shells

* Cowrie shells came from maldives and were transported by boat * Slaves were traded for the shells. the shells were viewed as currency but only to africans. * africans saw them as priceless artifacts * The atlantic slave trade undermined africans true identity because once they were brought to the united states they became indistinguishable. They were all known as africans nothing more specific.

David Walker's Appeal

* David Walker's Appeal, arguably the most radical of all anti-slavery documents, caused a great stir when it was published in September of 1829 with its call for slaves to revolt against their masters. David Walker, a free black originally from the South wrote, ". . .they want us for their slaves, and think nothing of murdering us. . . therefore, if there is an attempt made by us, kill or be killed. . . and believe this, that it is no more harm for you to kill a man who is trying to kill you, than it is for you to take a drink of water when thirsty." Even the outspoken William Lloyd Garrison objected to Walker's approach in an editorial about the Appeal. * The goal of the Appeal was to instill pride in its black readers and give hope that change would someday come. It spoke out against colonization, a popular movement that sought to move free blacks to a colony in Africa. America, Walker believed, belonged to all who helped build it. He went even further, stating, "America is more our country than it is the whites -- we have enriched it with our blood and tears." He then asked, "will they drive us from our property and homes, which we have earned with our blood?"

Jupiter Hammon

* First published black poet * born as a slave in NY in 1711/remained a slave his entire life * he probably preached to slaves * most poems were about salvation * Said that slavery relied on God ("deal with it")

Prince Hall

* Founded first black freemasons * Born into slavery but was freed after the boston massacre * Leather dresser and hukster for the patriots during the civil war * Created the African Lodge #1 * Protested the kidnapping of free blacks into slavery

Sundiata

* Important figure in Sudanese religion * wielded magic to defeat his enemies. * Was a muslim and helped make Mali a muslim state * Find more in "The Lion's Awakening" story from class "The lion prince". Founded the Mali empire in W. Africa. Oral Tradition: Son of a regional African ruler. Deformed left leg left him crippled. When his father died, his kingdom was overrun and enemies killed the royal family except for Sundiata. He eventually grew stronger and began hunting. Enemies forced him into exile, where he became a strong warrior. He eventually returned home and claimed the throne His calvary (main strength of his army) slashed through his enemies and he effortlessly established rule throughout the Niger River valley. He was a Muslim and welcomed Muslim merchants to his capital of Niani. Empire included Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. A Mali ruler who built up an army and won back Mali's independence from a harsh ruler who conquered Mali. After conquering Ghana, he took over the salt and gold trades, and he worked to improve agriculture in Mali. Some of the crops were beans, onions, and rice; he introduced a new crop-cotton, which made clothing more comfortable in the warm climate.

Denmark Vesey's Revolt

* In 1822, Vesey and other leaders from the African Church began plotting a rebellion. Vesey set the date for revolt on July 14, and men from Charleston and surrounding plantations planned to seize Charleston's arsenals and guard houses, kill the Governor, set fire to the city, and kill every white man they saw. But in June, several nervous slaves leaked the plot to their masters, and Charleston authorities began arresting leaders. Vesey was captured on June 22, and he and the conspirators were brought to trial. Despite torture and the threat of execution, the men refused to give up their followers. On July 2nd, Denmark Vesey and five other men were hanged. Gullah Jack was executed several days later, with the total number of executions reaching 35 by August 9th.

Nat Turner's Revolt

* In 1831 a slave named Nat Turner led a rebellion in Southhampton County, Virginia. A religious leader and self-styled Baptist minister, Turner and a group of followers killed some sixty white men, women, and children on the night of August 21. Turner and 16 of his conspirators were captured and executed, but the incident continued to haunt Southern whites. Blacks were randomly killed all over Southhampton County; many were beheaded and their heads left along the roads to warn others. In the wake of the uprising planters tightened their grip on slaves and slavery. This woodcut was published in an 1831 account of the slave uprising.

Great Awakening

* In the 1730s, a religious revival swept through the British American colonies. JONATHAN EDWARDS, the Yale minister who refused to convert to the Church of England, became concerned that New Englanders were becoming far too concerned with worldly matters. He thought that people living in America were more concerned with getting rich than religious principles. The Great Awakening was basically a period of religious enlightenment for the people of America

Declaration of Independence (as it relates to slavery)

* Jefferson and other drafters of the document didn't think they had to specify when they wrote about "freedom, liberty for all, blah blah". They thought it was obvious that white men descended from Britain were much different than people of color. * Jefferson & co. didn't want blacks to be encouraged and to think this was an anti-slavery document. But, the black population did so anyway. * By creating the document, the whites had allowed for much more argument with the blacks. Now blacks could argue about how those same freedom principles logically applied to them too.

John Punch

* John Punch is one of the first servants on record to be sentenced to slavery on the grounds of race. However, he was neither the first nor the last black man to flee from oppressive bondage. Despite the development of harsh fugitive slave laws in the next century, running away remained one of the most common strategies for escaping slavery

Bacon's Rebellion

* Key event which led relying on blacks as slaves * Reasons for rebellion * Bacon said all indians were enemies * wanted to kill/drive out every indian in virginia * had a large amount of followers, mostly poor blacks and whites (inden. servants) * promised slaves freedom if they sided with him * also many indentured servants because they worked towards land that was owned by the indians * Berkeley was against Bacon and wouldn't give him a commission, he said that they can't kill the good indians. * when bacon didn't get the commission from berkeley he gathered 500 followed so berkeley was forced to give him a commision * Outcome/ How it ended * British authorities sent the royal force to stop the uprising * When bacon died in october of dysentery his rebellion died out * Bacons rebellion joined poor blacks and whites and that fast tracked the transition to racial slavery * The master class, the rich whites, realized that if they transition from a mixed labor force to a black labor force that there would be lesser of a chance for conflict since the blacks didn't have any power

Chesapeake, Low-Country, and Northern Slavery

* Low Country: * Carolina- North America's leading port of entry for blacks * 40,000 slaves (90% of population) * "more like a black country than white" * First 30 years: Gave Barbados beef, lumber * 1700: main crop rice * Enslaved Africans had skill in growing rice * Similar to the West Indies, they had large fields of land for rice * Georgia- * 1734: Slavery was banned * 1756: Slavery was allowed because of * Economic problems * Land hunger among SC * 1750: rice cultivation and slavery spread * Had as many blacks as whites now * Both South Carolina and Georgia: * Plantation owners were absent * Liked to live in Charleston or Savannah for relief from the heat * High mortality rate: * Disease * Overwork * Poor treatment * Black population DID NOT increase b/c of reproduction but because there were many slaves imported from Africa

Ibn Battuta

* Mali - Everybody gives food and gifts. Ibn Battuta expected more from the king, the king says he would give gifts. * Ibn Battuta expects gold, robes and money. Instead he receives more food. He thinks that it is "foolish" that they thought food was a honorary gift. * Takes religion seriously. No mercy is shown toward people who commit crimes making the crime rate low. Complete security. * he finds a naked lady and thinks that it is bad quality. The ceremonies were grotesque. The people put ashes on their heads and eat dogs, carrion, and asses. * West Africa - Good hospitality. The people provide clothes and great amounts of food. The people are very established. * The trade (buying/ selling) is organized. * Quote : "One of the finest towns in Negro land"

Paul Cuffee

* Master mariner, merchant and ship builder * His father was a slave and bought his freedom and raised 10 kids in marthas vineyard * Cuffee was educated by a tutor * Served 3 months in the penn * Made a lot of money as a ships captain and wanted to bring blacks back to africa where they belong, he started to colonize but found it too expensive * Wrote a petition to Massachusetts legislatures about taxation w/out representation * Refused to pay taxes * Quaker

Black Loyalists (reasons for decision to fight for England and the aftermath)

* Most Black Loyalists were from the South (South Carolina and Georgia) * Patriots at first refused to allow blacks in the army, so the British used it to their advantage and started recruiting blacks south of Maryland. * B/c of Lord Dunmore's proclamation, approx. 20,000 blacks left with the British to aid the loyalists in return for their freedom. * More African Americans became Loyalists than Patriots during the war. * After the war, most black Loyalists left with the British. Either to Acadia, the British West Indies, or to Sierra Leone (British colony formed for former slaves in 1787)

PA Gradual Abolition Act

* Most states in the North did not abolish slavery immediately. Instead, they passed "Gradual Emancipation" laws which called for a phasing out of slavery. With its statute of 1780, Pennsylvania became one of the first states to enact such legislation. * slaves but prohibited further importation of slaves into the state and required PA slaveholders to annually register their slaves and established that the future children of PA slaves would be in slavery for 26 years. Those enslaved in Pennsylvania before 1780 would be enslaved for life.

Slavery and Indentured Servitude

* Often times treated more harsh and worked more than slaves * Served master until given time in contract is passed * Indentured servants worked so the master would pay for their passage * Many indentured servants died from overwork before they finished serving their time Benefits having Indentured Servants vs. Slaves: * Indentured worked harder b/c their term will end soon * Make them work to death since masters have them for limited time * slaves had to work for a lifetime Benefits having Slaves vs. Indentured Servants: * the slaves' kids were the master's property too -> more profit

Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

* Opinion in Europe was also changing. Moral, religious and humanitarian arguments found more and more support. A vigorous campaign to achieve abolition began in Britain in 1783 and also developed in North America and the Caribbean, often led by the Black churches. In Britain, Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) was another prominent campaigner who was principally responsible for collecting evidence against the trade. Clarkson was a founder member of the society for effecting the abolition of the slave trade in 1787. * illegal trading continued for a further 60 years. About a quarter of all Africans who were enslaved between 1500 and 1870 were transported across the Atlantic in the years after 1807. Much of this illegal trade was to the sugar plantations of Cuba and Brazil.

Haitian Revolution

* The Haitian Revolution has often been described as the largest and most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere. Slaves initiated the rebellion in 1791 and by 1803 they had succeeded in ending not just slavery but French control over the colony. Led by former slave Toussaint l'Overture, the enslaved rebelled against plantation leaders : 1791. By 1792 they controlled a third of the island. Despite reinforcements from France, the area of the colony held by the rebels grew as did the violence on both sides. Before the fighting ended 100,000 of the 500,000 blacks and 24,000 of the 40,000 whites were killed. Nonetheless the former slaves managed to stave off both the French forces and the British who arrived in 1793 to conquer the colony, and who withdrew in 1798 after a series of defeats by l'Overture's forces. {[prob not important but idk]> By 1801 l'Overture expanded the revolution beyond Haiti, conquering the neighboring Spanish colony of Santo Domingo (present-day Dominican Republic). He abolished slavery in the Spanish-speaking colony and declared himself Governor-General for life over the entire island of Hispaniola. He was later taken to prison by french army. And replaced by "Governor-General" who defeated the returning french army"}

Frederick Douglass

* The first epiphany is Douglass's realization about what slavery is. He's born a slave on Colonel Lloyd's plantation, but as a child he's mostly spared the worst kinds of suffering. He sees his Aunt Hester get beaten, for example, but he's too young to be whipped himself. Instead, he suffers without really knowing it. He never knows his father and only meets his mother a handful of times before she dies - and then, he isn't allowed to go to her funeral. But he doesn't really know for a long time that this isn't normal. So his first turning point is sort of simplistic, but also important: realizing that he is a slave and all that that entails. * The second stage of his life begins when the seven-year-old Douglass is sent to work for a new set of masters in Baltimore. Baltimore is a whole new world for him, with a lot of new experiences, but the most important thing he learns there is the power of education. He has this second epiphany when his master's wife starts teaching him to read, which gets her in big trouble with her husband. Douglass finds ways of educating himself, but the real lesson is that slavery exists not because the masters are better than their slaves, but because they keep their slaves ignorant. Douglass starts to suspect that if slaves managed to educate themselves, it would be impossible to stop them from becoming free. * As Douglass becomes a young man, he starts fighting to actually befree. When he talks back to his master, his master sends him to work for a notorious "slave breaker," Covey, who tries to destroy Douglass's spirit. For a while it works, and Douglass is reduced to the state of mind of an animal. This is the lowest point in his life. His third epiphany happens, however, when he decides that he'd rather die than be treated like a slave anymore. So the next time Covey tries to whip him, he stands up to him, and after a two-hour fight, Covey leaves him alone. Douglass vows never to be whipped again. And he never is. * After this, Douglass bounces from master to master, but he's always on the lookout for a way to escape to freedom. And after one failed attempt, he finally succeeds and makes his way first to New York, then to Massachusetts. But even after he's free, he discovers that his journey isn't over. This is his final epiphany: even after he acquires his own freedom, he realizes he can't rest until all slavery is abolished. He not only becomes an abolitionist activist himself; he writes the narrative of his life to teach others, white and black, how to follow in his footsteps.

Constitution (as it relates to slavery)

* The first indication of slavery in the Constitution appears in Article I, Section 2. This is the three-fifths clause that explains the apportionment of representation and taxation. It reads: * Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other Persons. * The next mention of the institution of slavery in the Constitution is found in Article I, Section 9. Once again it is not mentioned by work, but it is implied. This section deals with issues of importation and taxation of the slave trade. It reads: * The Migration and Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person. * The next reference to slavery in the Constitution is found in Article IV, Section 2. This is the fugitive-slave clause which reads: * No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom Service or Labour may be due.

First African Arrivals in Jamestown

* The first to arrive were brought by the Portuguese and considered unfree but not slaves * The English had a law against slavery * Many Angolans were converted to Christianity; which by English custom, a Christian could not be enslaved * VA had few blacks total because of death or moving * The English called blacks "negroes" aka what the spanish called them

Solomon Northup

* Was a freeman who was tricked and captured into slavery. He worked as a slave for 12 years for various masters. finally he gained his freedom and was able to go back home to join his family

John P. Parker

* Was enslaved by a doctor * his master's son taught him how to read * when he turned 18 he bought his own freedom * began helping fugitive slaves escape captivity * had 6 children and all went to college

Olaudah Equiano

* Wrote the book, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa * Found the Europeans very foreign and wonder why he's never encountered them before * Wanted to be among the Europeans because they were "magical" since they could move vessels * Born in nigeria in 1745 * Captured @ 10 years old * Became a sea captain, Michael Henry Pascal's, personal servant * Served in the French and Indian war * Worked as a shipping clerk & amateur navigator in england * Purchased his freedom in 1766 for 40 pounds of sterling when he was 21 * Converted to calvinism and joined british anti-slavery movement * Organized a colony for emancipated british slaves in sierra leone, west africa * Wrote an autobiography and supported himself for the rest of his life by selling copies of it

William Still

* big stop on underground railroad * lived in philly * freedom seekers would stop at his house and tell them their story and he documented it * Mother, father, and sisters escaped slavery and he was born in New Jersey. Two brothers were left in slavery; one died, the other eventually found William Still was an African-American abolitionist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, conductor on the Underground Railroad, writer, historian and civil rights activist. He was chairman of the Vigilance Committee of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. He directly aided fugitive slaves and kept records of their lives, to help families reunite after slavery was abolished. After the American Civil War, he wrote an account of the underground system and the experiences of many refugee slaves, entitled The Underground Railroad Records, published in 1872. African American abolitionist and author; 18th son of ex-slaves; wrote The Underground Railroad which chronicles how he helped 649 slaves escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad

Richard Allen

* born 1760 into slavery * sold to master in DE that allowed him to buy his own freedom * becomes devout methodist * itinerant preacher * traveled by foot * preached at saint george methodist church (phila) * formed mother bethel AME church because of an increase of black churchgoers and the mistreatment of white parishioners * formed in early 1790 * first independent black church in the nation * methodist episcopal church

Absolom Jones

* born as a slave in DE 1746 * at 16 his family was sold but his master took him to philly * married in philly and bought freedom for his wife so he would have a free child * he remained a slave * bought his own freedom in 1784 * In 1797 he was the first African American to petition Congress which anticipated later abolitionists in suggesting that slavery violated the spirit of the US Constitution and that Congress could abolish it. * after incident at st georges he founded the african church of st thomas in 1794 * was affiliated with white episcopal church * ordained a priest in 1804

James Forten

* born free in 1766 * dropped out of school to fight on THE PATRIOT ship during the revolution * became owner of his own sail making company in 1798 * became very wealthy * raised money for abolitionist causes including The Liberator

Robert Purvis

* born free in south carolina in 1810 * appeared to be white however he considered himself black * moved to philly at age 9 and attended abolitionist school * Formed American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833 * Became President of Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society 1845-50 * Married James Forten's daughter

Lucy Terry, "Bars Fight"

* first african american poet * was not published before wheatley but wrote poems before her

Africans in Spanish Florida

* it was an easy place to slaves in the deep south to escape to * Escaped slaves brought their skills (carpentry, blacksmithing, etc.) to St. Augustine * To thank them, Fort Mose was given to the free blacks as a gift and became known as the first African American settlement. * Free slaves (black seminoles), married Native Americans when they migrated to Florida

Benjamin Banneker

* mixed race but born free * parent were landowners * went to a quaker school * early genius * loved math and mechanics * had a lifelong friendship with his white neighbors the ellicotts * built a clock even though he never saw one * worked as a surveyor of Washington D.C. * learned about astronomy * him and george ellicott predicted eclipse of the sun * decided to make an almanac * published 6 almanacs * noticed around the country for his work * sent one to Thomas Jefferson to prove that he wasnt incompetent like Jefferson said african americans were

Colonial Slave Laws from Book and Lecture

* slaves could not be taught to read and write * In the 1660's (Jamestown times), chattel slavery really started instead of inden. servitude * The condition of a child was determined the mother (free/unfree). * No felony charges for masters who killed their slaves (1669) * Slaves could not: * testify against whites * own property * meet in groups of 4 or more * marry * or bear arms

Cotton Gin

* took the seeds out of cotton * revolutionary * made cotton a more profitable crop * people stopped growing tobacco as much and switched to huge cotton plantations * this is the start of mostly huge plantations * alot of states that did not have alot of slavery now were huge slave states because of the economic benefit of growing cotton

Levi Coffin

* was a quaker * decided to be an abolitionist * saw a group of chained african americans walk by where him and his father were and that motivated him to become an abolitionist * him and his wife aided freedom seekers for over 20 years * educated former slaves * had a mercantile store where he only sold items made by free people so as to not support slavery economically

Notes on the State of Virginia

* written by jefferson * infuriated many african americans * said that african americans could memorize things just as well as whites but were not creative or truly intellectual * Phillis Wheatley, Benjamin Banneker, and Jupiter Hammon all proved this wrong * Was written to please everyone

Harriet Beecher Stowe

* wrote "uncle toms cabin" * found inspiration for her story from runaway slave stories * josiah henson was inspiration for uncle tom in the book * move to cincinnati and became a teacher * even though she had no first hand experience with slavery or slaves her book awakened many to the horrors of slavery and the heroism of freedom seekers She wrote the abolitionist book, Uncle Tom's Cabin. It helped to crystallize the rift between the North and South. It has been called the greatest American propaganda novel ever written, and helped to bring about the Civil War.

Kingdom of Benin

-Allowed europeans to come in and trade for gold, pepper, ivory, and slaves. was against the trade of people under his rule so his army went to neighboring villages and captured people from neighboring villages * Benin was the eastern end of the West African Forest Region. Benin controlled the area of Africa that is currently Nigeria. * The people of Benin shared a common heritage with the Yoruba. * Benin constantly displayed a struggle for power between the Oba (King) and hereditary nobility. * European remarked on the size and sophistication of Benin. Benin was the center for production of fine bronze sculptures. * The wealthy people of Benin dined on beef, mutton, chicken and yams. * Benin had little religious influence from Christianity or Islam and was a large member in the atlantic slave trade * The Oba of Benin allowed Europeans to come into the country to trade for gold, pepper, ivory, and slaves. * Slave trading became a large part of Benin's economy and as they began to decline Oba began to sell his own people

Empire of Mali (1230-1468)

-Important city Timbuktu. Tim.... was a hub for trade in gold, slaves, and salt traded with merchants from mediterranean Mali: Capital, Culture, trade, rulers, enemies * Mali "where the emperor resides" was very similar to ghana. * Mali lacked leadership for a period of time and amongst it was a struggle for political and economic power. However a leader, Sundiata, took the throne and led the Mandinka ppl. * he defeated the Sosso, an army that previously defeated Kumbu Saleh * Mali was very wealthy because of gold mines * Mali had more rainfall and more abundance of crops than Ghana (wealthier) * Mali had a population of 8 Million people * In Mali most of the merchants and bureaucrats were Muslim and emperors gained Arab states by converting to islam * Mali's most important city was Timbuktu.. during the 18th century Timbuktu became the hub of trade as stated above. Timbuktu was also established as the center of islamic learning. * Mali reached peak under leader Mansa Musa (1312-1337). After he died, Mali declined and was taken over by Sunni Ali, who started the Songhai empire

Ghana

-Imported silk, cotton, glass beads, horses, mirrors, dates and salt. Exported: pepper, slaves, and especially, gold, they traded with north Africa * Capital: Kumbi Saleh was an impressive city with stone houses and tombs. Kumbi had a population of 20,000. * Influenced by Muslim Settlers/traders * First western Sudanese empire * Founded by Soninke north of present Ghana (from word for king) * Exports-pepper,slaves, gold * Imports-silk, cotton, glass beads, horses, mirrors, dates, salt * Camel trade played a very large part in making kingdom wealthy * 2 main religions fought for control * Conquered by Almoravids

Kongo (Nzinga, Mbemba, Ana Nzinga) and Angola

-Traded salt and iron with the interior if the continent * Kingdom of Kongo * Wealth grew off of trading salt and iron * Leader: Nzinga Knuwu- welcomed European intruders willingly * Nzinga Knuwu's son, Nzinga Mbembsa, tried modeling the kingdom along European lines and converting to Christianity; didn't work. * Ana Nzinga * She came into power by changing her country, Ndonga from a supply zone to an intermediary country. * She allied with Portugal. After being betrayed by Portugal she offered sanctuary to run away slaves. * She created a military organization called the kilombo. * She also castigated a rebellion within her country of Ndango.

Empire of Songhai

-adventures from portugal established trading. Took part in the trans-Sahara trade, and songhai was later attacked by Senegambia and the akan states traded gold (from underground mines) for slaves needed to clear forest. Europeans gave them guns for gold * The people of songhai were supposedly great warriors and traders. * Largest Sudanese empire * under the leadership of Sunni Ali, Songhai was able to liberate themselves from Mali. Sunni required people to pay a tribute. Sunni later died by drowning * Askia Muhammad toure led a revolt against Sunni' and made himself king of Songhai. He extended his empire, centralized administration, demanded tribute, spread influence of islam, and established bureaucracy to regulate trade

The Passage

1. Capture 2. Holding Prison 3. Loading 4. Atlantic Passage 5. Initial Landing 6. Enslavement