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Early raiding and trading - Coggle Diagram
Early raiding and trading
Horrors of slave trade began fairly early, but the numbers were fairly small for the first 125-150 years
there were plenty of reasons to trade with Africa before then
it took a while for the plantation economy to develop
transition from raiding to trading
discovery of gold sources
need for permanent settlement
no interest in colonization--and in any case, the disease environment didn't support it
establishment of Elmina and trading through the 16th century
Africans were equal partners
Kings on the coast established rules and procedures
extensive intra-African networks to bring gold from the goldfields to the coast
early slave trade
inherent in African society
land was plentiful, labor scarce
no large beasts of burden because of tsetse fly--humans needed as carriers
slaves were assimilated and made part of society
war captives
slave trade with Egypt and Asia--historic and ongoing
slaves brought to Elmina from Niger delta to work in goldfields
Benin cut off supply at beginning of 16th century
São Tomé became center of not only plantations but also of early slave trade -- handoff to Ken
Slaves sent to Europe--large African populations in Seville and Lisbon--for household labor and skilled/unskilled workers
why was gold such a big deal?
gold from Africa was a trade good, and came at a high cost
not easy pickings like the California or Brazilian gold run--or plundering New World silver
but needed for European economies for a variety of reasons, of which the most important was unfavorable balance of trade with Asia and the Middle East
and gold was a prestige good in Europe as in Africa--both societies used an enormous amount of gold for religious implements and ornaments