The Slave Coast of West Africa, 1550-1750: the Impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade on an African Society - Book Report/Review Example

The Slave Coast of West Africa, 1550-1750: the Impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade on an African Society This book which was written by Law robin in 1991 is a master case that captures the trans-Atlantic slave trade between 1550 and 1750. It mainly talks of the lucrative international institution which many nations especially in Europe and America benefited from this trade which was commonly referred to as the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The trade called Trans- Atlantic since it looks like a triangle between Europe Americas and Africa. Trade good like guns clothes and textiles were sent out from Europe to either Africa or Americas, in Africa they were exchanged with slaves who were loaded into ships that crossed the Atlantic in order to provide labor for the large plantations in the north and South America which were Europe colonies by then. From Americas were the farm produce which were sent to Europe for processing them. It is speculated that about fifty percent of the slaves were sent to Caribbean. The factors that stimulated the growth of trans-Saharan slave trade were the availability of merchants who aided the trades during the trade; there were existence of slave labor inn Saharan salt mines since the ancient time, so the idea of slavery was not a new thing to the people of West Africa, additionally the growth of Ghana and the Muslim penetration of North Africa. Due to its harsh and oppressive nature, it also resulted to destruction and notorious death of many Africans. According to the book, slave were mainly Africans due to the advancement of the ocean and sea sailing which brought the Europeans into contact with a large scale face to face contact with people who were culturally and physically more different from themselves than any other people whom they had interacted with. The African capacity to resist Europeans facilitated for the establishment of sugar plantations in America rather than Africa. Nevertheless some Africans were prepared to sell slaves to Europeans for use in Americas. Due to the establishment of plantations in the new world the strong demand for labor grew in the plantations and mines. Of the total population, it is estimated that about 7 million people consisting of men women and children were shipped from Africa to Americas. This trade had an immense impact to African communities. Million able bodied individuals captured and transported to Americas let to many death toll this led to economic and environmental destruction resulting from wars and slave raids the old and the children were left to starve or either killed. Many Africans were exposed to untold suffering why were whipped and tied with chains during transits it is believed that 20% of the loaded slave did not proceed to the new world for many slaves opted to jump into the ocean and face the shark than be exposed to inhumane torture from fellow human beings. The African population instead of growing by then it reduced in a large percentage. European economy continued to grow this was due to free produce from Americas and the cheap free labor provided by the Africans in the plantation. Africans communities relocated as far from slave routes as possible. In the progress, their technological and economic development was highly hindered as they mostly devoted their energy to hiding and defending themselves. Additionally, kingdoms, chiefdoms, ethnic group, religious communities, castes, rules enslaved peasants were transformed this led to evolution of new styles of leadership to ensure better protection. The slave trade is the sole reason for the continent underdevelopment and disorganization; this made the continent more vulnerable to the next phase of European hegemony which was championed during the Berlin conference for the partition and colonization of African continent. The only positive effect that the trade had on African is the introduction of Islamic religion in the area which until the present day is very dominant in the west and North Africa. Allada being the most prominent Aja state in early eighteenth century made the city control slave trade in the area. Slave trade growth made the state grow immensely, due to the formation of the new state of Dahomey made Allada less significant. Lagos on the other hand, also became the successor of Allada in the slave trade era this was because by mid-eighteenth century, the economical and political decline of Allada re4sulted in new slave ports European influence centres on West African coast. Lastly Lagos was more peaceful prior to the growth of the slave trade which helped transform it from the neglected backwater of Yoruba land. All this facilitated the decline of the Allada state. Dahomey an African kingdom that lasted between 1600 to 1900which was located in the present-day Benin until the French conquest developed on the Dabomey plateau amongst the Fon people. Allada got its large domination in the area due to its ability to of conquering key cities on the Atlantic coast like Allada and whydah. With the ability to control over the coastal cities, the kingdom became well known as a reliable source of slaves. Its growth was stimulated by Agaja who provided military protection during the struggle He made the whydah royal family flee and made Dahomey occupy a large area particularly the crucial coastal slave trade cities. Additionally, the king also strengthened royal power by establishing succession by primogeniture, by late eighteenth century, Dahomey also imported gun from the coast in exchange for slaves this made the kingdom have military supremacy (Robin 1-376). Conclusion The book has widely discussed the major events that took place around 1600s in west Africa, mostly know to many that during this time, the trans-Atlantic slave trade was at its pick more and more Africans were shipped to Americas which were by then referred as the new world to work in big plantation as slave. Back at home in Africa they left the aged and children who were unable to be economically productive making the continent be economically under developed. However, the book does not provide a clear chronological of accounts of how the slave trade was conducted in addition to that it is only based in the slave trade where it also gives America’s history Work cited Robin, Law. The slave coast of West Africa, 1550-1750: the impact of the Atlantic slave trade on an African society. New York: Oxford University Press. 199, 1 1-376. Print Read More