The purpose of the exploration: to expand European geographic knowledge, to find the source of prized African gold, and to locate a possible sea route to valuable Asian spices. In 1441, for the first time, Portuguese sailors obtained gold dust from traders on the western coast of Africa.
Why were Europeans interested in Africa?
Europeans first became interested in Africa for trade route purposes. They were looking for ways to avoid the taxes of the Arab and Ottoman empires in Southwest Asia. Sailing around Africa was the obvious choice, but it was a long voyage and could not be completed without “pit stops” along the way.
Why did European traders come to West Africa?
European slave traders. Some people in West Africa were slaves who had been captured during wars or found guilty of crimes. … Slave traders came to West Africa to trade cloth, rum, salt, guns, and other goods for slaves. Slaves were needed to work on plantations in the Americas.
Why did Europeans increase their demand for enslaved Africans?
Why did European settlers increase their demand for enslaved Africans? … As disease from the Europeans ran rapid, more and more of the enslaved Native Americans started to die, so the demand for slaves grew along with the prices and Europeans joined the slave trade.
What role did Europe play in trade with Africa?
‘European trading had a transforming impact on Africa. Europeans poured into Africa enormous volumes of commerce, the whole range of European manufactured goods and hardware, notably firearms, luxury goods (especially alcohol) and transhipped items from Asia (particularly textiles).
What was Africa like before colonization?
At its peak, prior to European colonialism, it is estimated that Africa had up to 10,000 different states and autonomous groups with distinct languages and customs. From the late 15th century, Europeans joined the slave trade. … They transported enslaved West, Central, and Southern Africans overseas.
What are 3 reasons for colonization?
Historians generally recognize three motives for European exploration and colonization in the New World: God, gold, and glory.
What were the 3 main reasons for European imperialism in Africa?
The European imperialist push into Africa was motivated by three main factors, economic, political, and social.
Which country started the fight against slavery in Africa?
The transatlantic slave trade began during the 15th century when Portugal, and subsequently other European kingdoms, were finally able to expand overseas and reach Africa. The Portuguese first began to kidnap people from the west coast of Africa and to take those they enslaved back to Europe.
Which African kingdom provided Europe with most of its gold?
One of the first sub-Saharan states in West Africa to gain attention in the wider medieval world was the Ghana Empire (6-13th century CE), located in modern-day southern Mauritania and Mali. The empire became famous for its gold, earning itself the nickname the ‘land of gold.
Where did Spain take enslaved Africans to?
In 1501, Spanish colonists began importing enslaved Africans from the Iberian Peninsula to their Santo Domingo colony on the island of Hispaniola. These first Africans, who had been enslaved in Europe before crossing the Atlantic, may have spoken Spanish and perhaps were even Christians.
What items did European traders trade for African slaves?
There they were exchanged for iron, guns, gunpowder, mirrors, knives, cloth, and beads brought by boat from Europe. When Europeans arrived along the West African coast, slavery already existed on the continent.
What were the major European powers in Africa?
By 1900 a significant part of Africa had been colonized by mainly seven European powers—Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. After the conquest of African decentralized and centralized states, the European powers set about establishing colonial state systems.
Why did Europe need slaves?
Europeans imported African slaves partly for demographic reasons. As a result of epidemic diseases, which reduced the native population by 50 to 90 percent, the labor supply was insufficient to meet demand.
Who supplied the slaves in Africa?
It is estimated that more than half of the entire slave trade took place during the 18th century, with the British, Portuguese and French being the main carriers of nine out of ten slaves abducted in Africa.
How did European traders affect slavery in West Africa?
The effect of slavery in Africa
By providing firearms amongst the trade goods, Europeans increased warfare and political instability in West Africa. Some states, such as Asante and Dahomey, grew powerful and wealthy as a result.