Climate and the Slave Trade

Climate and the Slave Trade
Agenda
Lecture: Climate and Slave Trade
Discussion Marks
Group work: in-classpresentations
read excerpt of ParkersGlobal Crisison Blackboard
read Marks 86-96
Quiz #6 due next Wed:questions from both
New Worlds Impact onAfrica:
1)Short-term: new foodcropspopulationgrowth
2)Medium-term: massiveslave-trade to populateAmerica
3)Long-term: Africa becamesource for raw materialexploitation

Climate and the Slave Trade
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Short Term: Mighty Maize
Corn imported by early 16thc.
Grown like other African grains
Population growth in West Africa
by 17thcentury = rainforest clearance
Millet/sorghum important in drier savannahs, bananasin highlands
Other New World crops: peanuts, chilies, tomatoes,manioc, tobacco
15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids
-fashionable African footmen/maids
Medium-Term: Labor
15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids
fashionable African footmen/maids
Portugal after century slavery
= 150,000 slaves
Medium-Term: Labor
15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids
fashionable African footmen/maids
Portugal after century slavery
= 150,000 slaves
Early on Spain/
Portugal uses
slaves for urban
and mine labor
Medium-Term: Labor
15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids
fashionable African footmen/maids
Portugal after century slavery
= 150,000 slaves
Early on Spain/
Portugal uses
slaves for urban
and mine labor
1540s: Portuguese
imported slaves (Brazil)
Medium-Term: Labor
15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids
fashionable African footmen/maids
Portugal after century slavery
= 150,000 slaves
1580s:dominant
Early on Spain/feature
Portugal uses
slaves for urban
and mine labor
1540s: Portuguese
imported slaves (Brazil)
Medium-Term: Labor
15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids
fashionable African footmen/maids
Portugal after century slavery
= 150,000 slaves
1640s: Britain
importedto Caribbean
1580s:dominant
Early on Spain/feature
Portugal uses
slaves for urban
and mine labor
1540s: Portuguese
imported slaves (Brazil)
Medium-Term: Labor
15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids
fashionable African footmen/maids
Portugal after century slavery
= 150,000 slaves
1640s: Britain
importedto Caribbean
1580s:dominant
Early on Spain/feature
Portugal uses17th century: slavery adapted to tobacco
slaves for urbanplantations in North America
and mine labor-Brits/French/Dutch tryEuropean laborers, but
1540s: PortugueseAfrican slavery success in
imported slaves (Brazil)tropics exported elsewhere
Medium-Term: Labor
15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids
fashionable African footmen/maids
Portugal after century slavery18thcentury: slavery adapted
= 150,000 slavesfor cotton
1640s: Britain
importedto Caribbean
1580s:dominant
Early on Spain/feature
Portugal uses17th century: slavery adapted to tobacco
slaves for urbanplantations in North America
and mine labor-Brits/French/Dutch tryEuropean laborers, but
1540s: PortugueseAfrican slavery success in
imported slaves (Brazil)tropics exported elsewhere
Medium-Term: Labor
Medium-Term: Labor
450 years11.7 million slaves(Atlantic trade)
Most captured by Africans
WHY DID AFRICANS COOPERATE?
Europeans paid high price forslaves because demand for sugarwas high
low pop. density had alreadymade labor (and slaves) valuableexisting mechanisms supplied Eurodemand
367,000
1,868,000
6,133,000
3,330,000
–
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
6,000,000
7,000,000
1460-1600
1601-1700
1701-1801
1801-1900
Theories of Slavery
Slavery and Climate
Extreme weather events disrupt society
Theories:
Droughtdecreasedslavery by increasing associatedcosts
Agriculture fails
Population declines
Difficult to raise taxes/lower productivity
Higher slave mortality
Sub-humid/savannah regions: more sensitive to change
Theories of Slavery
Slavery and Climate
Extreme weather events disrupt society
Theories:
Droughtincreasedslavery
Population disruptedmore conflict
People without food migratemore vulnerable tocapture
People sell themselves into slavery
Some historians say Africa experienced prolonged dryspell from 1630-1860
Theories of Slavery
Slavery and Climate
NOT TO EXCUSE RESPONSIBILITY
Such numbers only possible because ofEuropean demand
How did climate affect slavetrade?
Discussion: MarksEmpires
What are changes to the world from 1500-1775?
Political changes
Economic/trade-related
Social changes
Environmental changes
What is causing some regions/empires to expand and otherto contract?
What resources do empires need? Why?
How do climate and geography affect the search for thoseresources?
Give examples from Asia, Middle East, Europe and pre-ColumbianAmericas.
With Columbus arrival in the Americas, how do Europeansmodify the environment for economic interests?
Agenda
read excerpt of ParkersGlobal CrisisonBlackboard
read Marks 86-96
Quiz #6 next Wedquestions from both