How Did Africa And The Web In 1450-1800
Africa and the Web in 1450-1800: The Atlantic Slave Trade
While some places were intricately involved with the Old World Web, other places were not as actively involved. Africa was a continent that did not take much part in the web before the 1500s. With a few exceptions of the coastal areas and East Africa which previously expanded the web a little due to interaction via the Indian Ocean; internal Africa still remained unaffected by long distance trades. McNeill points out that “a dangerous disease environment, a paucity of navigable river and considerable military skills” kept outsiders out of the tropical Africa (McNeill and McNeill, 167). The historical phenomenon, known as the Atlantic slave trade, increased Africa’s participation in the web. This essay will explore how the slave trade became a part of the web from the 1450s to 1800 and the effects it had in Africa as well as on other parts of the world.
Sub-Saharan Africa had been exporting slaves long before, but this was in small proportions compared to the massive amount of the Atlantic slave trade. The introduction of sugar production found an important use for slaves. They became a ‘major factor in agricultural production’ and the interest in African trade ‘shifted from gold and ivory to one primarily stressing slaves’ (Klein, 10). Sugar was …show more content…
The plantations based on slave labour opened up the markets on the African coast, allowing goods and foods from all parts of the world flowing into Africa as well as the exports of cash crops from the Americas to all parts of the world. However it did make Africa a more unequal place, with people taking advantage of the new exchanges and trading while others suffered and lived in fear and poverty. Due to militarization and the impact of guns in Africa, there became an increasing gap between the strong and the weak and violence was emphasized in African
While some places were intricately involved with the Old World Web, other places were not as actively involved. Africa was a continent that did not take much part in the web before the 1500s. With a few exceptions of the coastal areas and East Africa which previously expanded the web a little due to interaction via the Indian Ocean; internal Africa still remained unaffected by long distance trades. McNeill points out that “a dangerous disease environment, a paucity of navigable river and considerable military skills” kept outsiders out of the tropical Africa (McNeill and McNeill, 167). The historical phenomenon, known as the Atlantic slave trade, increased Africa’s participation in the web. This essay will explore how the slave trade became a part of the web from the 1450s to 1800 and the effects it had in Africa as well as on other parts of the world.
Sub-Saharan Africa had been exporting slaves long before, but this was in small proportions compared to the massive amount of the Atlantic slave trade. The introduction of sugar production found an important use for slaves. They became a ‘major factor in agricultural production’ and the interest in African trade ‘shifted from gold and ivory to one primarily stressing slaves’ (Klein, 10). Sugar was …show more content…
The plantations based on slave labour opened up the markets on the African coast, allowing goods and foods from all parts of the world flowing into Africa as well as the exports of cash crops from the Americas to all parts of the world. However it did make Africa a more unequal place, with people taking advantage of the new exchanges and trading while others suffered and lived in fear and poverty. Due to militarization and the impact of guns in Africa, there became an increasing gap between the strong and the weak and violence was emphasized in African