Regions of Africa
Which European nation first seized West African slaves near Cape Blanco in 1444?
Portugal
What physical factor made West Africa appealing to European traders?
Its proximity and favourable trade winds
Who conducted the initial slave raids in West Africa?
Africans themselves (tribes such as Oyo, Benin, Dahomey, Asante)
What kind of labour were West Africans forced to perform in the Caribbean?
Plantation work
When did the first recorded slaves arrive in the Caribbean?
1501
What region lay between the Senegal and Gambia rivers and supplied few slaves?
Senegambia
Why did Europeans believe Africans were suited for plantation work?
They were accustomed to tropical climates and large-scale agriculture
What age group did captors target most often?
Boys and men between 16 and 40
Why did Europeans stop using Indigenous peoples and white servants?
High death rates, resistance, and limited supply
What does studying the slave trade help us understand today?
The lasting effects of slavery on Africa and the Caribbean
Which area was divided into the Ivory, Gold and Slave Coasts?
Lower Guinea
What was one major political reason for the trade?
European powers needed economic strength and labour for colonies
What happened to captives who became sick or slowed down on the journey to the coast?
They were left to die
What was one consequence for African villages when men were captured?
Elderly, women, and children were left behind
What did the trans-Atlantic slave trade lay the foundation for?
European economic dominance and colonial systems
From which region were slaves highly valued in the British West Indies by 1740?
Gold Coast
Which Bible story was used to justify enslaving Africans?
Noah’s Curse (Genesis 9)
What was a “coffle”?
A chain or group of enslaved people marched together
What did the support of the Church allow Europeans to justify?
The inhumane treatment of enslaved Africans
Why was there little solidarity among African states to resist the trade?
Tribal wars and rivalries
Approximately, how many slaves were exported from the Slave Coast between the Volta River and Lagos?
About two million
Why was importing African slaves more economical than using white indentured servants?
Slaves were for life and cheaper than paying white labourers for 8–10 years
How far did enslaved people have to march to the coast?
About 200 miles (320 km)
How did the trans-Atlantic slave trade change from simple trade?
It became a structured, racist, and profit-driven system
How did the slave trade impact Africa socially and economically?
Communities lost their young population; agriculture and families collapsed