Slavery, Colonialism and neo-colonialism have been described as the tripartite
crime against Africa. A crime attributable to the Euro-Americans. Two nations laid
the foundation of what later became the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. These were
Portugal and Spain.The voyage of discovery reached Black Africa in 1445, when
Dinis Dias and Lanzarote de Freitas anchored their fleets at the mouth of the
Senegal River, and reconnoitered some of the Cape Verde islands. The remaining
parts of the Archipelago was discovered jointly by the Venetian Alvise de
Cadamosto (1430-1480), Antonio Uso Mare from Genoa. There were no further
discoveries until the death of Henry the Navigator in 1460. As at this period the
local chiefs were already into the lucrative slave trade. Pedro de Cintas in 1462
discovered the coasts of Guinea, the Bissagos Islands, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Fernando Po and Lopez Gonzalves navigated Fernando Po and Sao Tome Islands.
Vasco Da Gama came on stage between 1460-1524, got through Cape Verde and
rounded the Cape of Good Hope (20th march 1499). Thus, the routes to the Indies
were opened. Diego Dias took another flank, reaching Madagascar (1500),
Ascension Island (1501) and Islands of St. Helena (1502). With these breath-taking
voyages of discovery it became possible to cross the Atlantic directly without
passing through the harsh West African Coast.
The Mediterranean had always been the centre of attraction. It united North Africa
and Europe. When it fell into the hands of Islam, Europe, particularly Portugal and
Spain sought for alternative routes. Islam could not match the Christian nations in
the mastery of the sea in quest of economic prosperity. It therefore took the
Portuguese nearly 100 years (1415-1498) to reconnoiter the precise circumference
of Africa. In this way trans-Atlantic trade replaced Trans Saharan trade. Reason being that on the other side of the Atlantic, Christopher Columbus had in 1492 set
foot on the new world. Lands that prove very suitable for sugar, cotton, tobacco,
and indigo plantations.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Slave Trade
- The Trans-Atlantic Slave-Trade
- The Immediate Causes of the Trade
- The Organization of the Trade
Objectives and Key Themes
This work examines the impact of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism on Africa, focusing on the historical, literary, and feminist perspectives. It analyzes the detrimental effects of these systems on African societies and individuals, exploring the complexities of power dynamics, exploitation, and resistance.
- The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: Its origins, organization, and consequences for Africa.
- The impact of colonialism on African societies, including its effects on culture, politics, and economics.
- The legacy of neo-colonialism and its continued influence on African nations.
- The role of gender and feminist perspectives in understanding the experiences of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism in Africa.
- The resilience and resistance of African people in the face of oppression.
Chapter Summaries
The introduction provides a historical overview of the origins of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, highlighting the key role of Portugal and Spain in its development. It outlines the motivations behind the trade and the early stages of its expansion. The chapter also touches upon the economic and political context that fueled the demand for enslaved Africans in the New World.
The chapter on the slave trade delves into the mechanisms of the trade, detailing the methods of capture, transportation, and sale of enslaved Africans. It explores the role of African rulers and intermediaries in the trade, as well as the devastating impact of the trade on African societies. The chapter also highlights the cultural and economic consequences of the slave trade for both Africa and the Americas.
The chapter dedicated to the Trans-Atlantic slave trade examines the intricacies of the triangular trade, highlighting the brutal conditions endured by enslaved Africans during the middle passage. It details the role of prominent figures involved in the trade, such as John Hawkins and Francis Drake, and explores the economic benefits and political ramifications of the trade for European powers. The chapter also presents a chilling account of the number of enslaved Africans transported across the Atlantic and the traumatic experiences of individuals like Samuel Ajayi Crowther who survived the journey.
The chapter on the immediate causes of the slave trade focuses on the economic factors that drove the demand for enslaved labor in the New World. It outlines the need for cheap labor to work plantations and mines, the challenges posed by the indigenous populations, and the early experiences with African laborers that fueled the growth of the transatlantic slave trade.
The final chapter on the organization of the slave trade delves into the intricate network of intermediaries, traders, and rulers involved in the trade. It describes the procurement process, the role of Portuguese merchants, and the expansion of the trade to other European powers. The chapter also highlights the methods of exchange used in the trade and the increasing reliance on enslaved individuals to meet the growing demand for labor.
Keywords
The key themes and topics addressed in this work include slavery, colonialism, neo-colonialism, Africa, transatlantic slave trade, exploitation, resistance, gender, feminist perspectives, historical analysis, and literary analysis. The text explores the multifaceted impacts of these systems on African societies and individuals, analyzing the complexities of power dynamics, cultural exchanges, and the enduring legacy of oppression.
- Citation du texte
- Dr. Dr. Ikechukwu Aloysius Orjinta (Auteur), 2011, Slavery, Colonialism, Neo-Imperialism and their Impact on Africa, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/177948
