Slave Trade

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Welcome to class! 

In today’s class, we will be talking about the slave trade. Enjoy the class!

Slave Trade

Slavery and slave trade existed in Africa before the European came. In West Africa, slavery originated in various ways

1. As a form of punishment
2. Capture in war
3. Sale of slaves
4. Kidnapping
5. Offspring of slaves.

Nigeria and the trans-Atlantic slave trade

• The origins:

1. The Portuguese started it in 1441.
2. Gonzalves (a Portuguese) took 10 slaves to Portugal.
3. The discovery of the new World – cheap labour needed for agriculture and mining.
4. The demand for African Labour-led to the intensification of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

• Organization of the slave trade:

1. Royal Niger Company established to control the trade.
2. Special Ships built to carry slaves.
3. Coastal middlemen acquired slaves from the hinterland and sold them to the Europeans at the coast.
4. Slave fairs are organised especially in the immediate hinterland of the eastern part of Niger Delta.
5. Adoption of a trust system.
6. The use of different kinds of currency e.g. cowries, iron, brass, copper etc.

The effects of the Atlantic slave trade

The evil effects are:

1. An atmosphere of general insecurity
2. Depopulation of Africa
3. The collapse of some forest states e.g. Oyo.
4. Neglect of native industries.
5. Agriculture suffered a severe blow.

The benefits are:

1. Gains of Nigerian middlemen e.g. Alaafin Abiodun.
2. Growth of the Niger Delta states e.g. Bonny, Okrika.
3. Development of harbours e.g. Apapa Port in Lagos.
4. Introduction of food crops e.g. maize and cassava.
5. The advent or coming of the Christian missionaries e.g. Mary Slessor, Henry Townsend etc.

Reasons for the abolition of the slave trade

1. Religion
2. European liberalism
3. European technological superiority and civilization
4. Loss of British colonies in America
5. Economic theory and the Industrial Revolution
6. Economic changes

Efforts made to end the trade

1. It became illegal in Britain
2. Britain naval team started to capture and seize ships carrying slaves.
3. Slave trade was replaced with legitimate trade.

General evaluation

1. Explain the origin of the slave trade
2. State the effects of the Atlantic slave trade.
3. Why did the Europeans visit the Nigerian coast?
4. What was the impact of European contact?
5. Trace the origins of the trans-Atlantic Slave-trade.
6. Describe the organization of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
7. What were the effects of the trans-Atlantic slave trade on Nigerian peoples?

 

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