HIST 122 Lecture 2: Hist 122 - Semester 2, Week 2.docx
15 Apr 2013
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African slavery took off because africans were highly militarized. Portuguese desire to control western coast of africa for trade: either circumnavigate africa to reach asia, or to establish ports on west coast of africa. Portuguese also desire more land for sugar cane. African society itself was centered around slavery. At this time, slavery is evaporating from europe. Africans offered to give slaves rather than land to portuguese to grow sugar. This exchange takes off with trade of guns, metal, and other goods. Slave snatching done most of the time by africans themselves: slave trading hubs in w. africa. Exchange of goods happened in forts on w. coast. Vicious gun-slave trade cycle: more guns = more slaves. Slaves kept in hull of boat, chained together: were not allowed to move. 50% of slaves died originally, but mortality decreased in later years. 4-5 million africans died in middle passage. 14-15 million africans transported to the new world.
