Why Africa
Which geographical feature made West Africa accessible for trade?
coast was close to Europe/could access via ships
Name one item Africa traded to Europe during the early trade period.
gold, salt, ivory, spices, textiles
Which kingdom was ruled by Mansa Musa?
Mali Empire
The Middle Passage was part of which trade system?
Triangular Trade/Atlantic Slave Trade
What was one major impact of the slave trade on West Africa?
Population loss, weakened communities
What type of crops in the Americans increased demand for enslaved labor? (name at least one)
Cash crops (sugar, cotton, tobacco)
During the transition period, what two new items did Africa receive from Europe?
guns and gunpowder — also alcohol
Which kingdom was known for its stone buildings and jewelry?
Great Zimbabwe
How long did the Middle Passage voyage typically last?
6–12 weeks
What was one impact on North American colonies?
Growth of plantation economies, dependency on enslaved labor
Name one political reason Europeans focused the slave trade on Africa
Competition for colonies/trade routes, strengthening African states militarily
Who benefited most during the peak of the slave trade?
Europeans and American colonists
Which West African empire was defeated by Moroccan armies with advanced weapons?
Songhai Empire
Describe two conditions on a slave ship during the Middle Passage.
Overcrowding, chained bodies, poor sanitation, disease
How did the slave trade affect African economies?
Shifted toward slave trading, reduced traditional industries
What was one social reason used to justify enslaving Africans?
Racist beliefs, religion, and social hierarchies
Why did the trade shift toward enslaved people?
Plantation demand, profits, political competition, and racial ideologies
Which kingdom traded ivory, pepper, and textiles with Europe and is famous for its bronze sculptures?
Kingdom of Benin
Why is the Middle Passage considered one of the largest forced migrations in history?
Millions were forcibly transported across the Atlantic over centuries
What is one way the slave trade shaped racial systems in the Americas?
Racial hierarchies and laws to control enslaved populations
Explain how geography in both Africa and the Americas worked together to support the trade.
West Africa’s coast and rivers made transport easy; America’s fertile coastal lands suited cash crops and were near shipping ports
Explain one short-term and one long-term effect of trading enslaved war captives for guns
Short-term: increased African leaders’ power; Long-term: weakened African societies and increased European control
Name two major factors that led to the decline of the Ghana Empire.
Attacks by the Almoravids, loss of trade routes
What percentage of enslaved Africans typically died during the Middle Passage?
10–20%
Name one lasting legacy of the slave trade.
Formation of the African diaspora, systemic racism, cultural blending under oppression