Environmental World History Essay

Climate and the Slave Trade

Agenda

• Lecture: Climate and Slave Trade
• Discussion Marks
• Group work: in-classpresentations

1. read excerpt of Parker’sGlobal Crisison Blackboard
2. read Marks 86-96
3. Quiz #6 due next Wed:questions from both

New World’s Impact onAfrica:

• 1)Short-term: new foodcropspopulationgrowth
• 2)Medium-term: massiveslave-trade to populateAmerica
• 3)Long-term: Africa becamesource for raw materialexploitation

Short Term: Mighty Maize

• Corn imported by early 16thc.
• Grown like other African grains
• Population growth in West Africa

• by 17thcentury = rainforest clearance

• Millet/sorghum important in drier savannahs, bananasin highlands
• Other New World crops: peanuts, chilies, tomatoes,manioc, tobacco

15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids

-fashionable African footmen/maids

Medium-Term: Labor

15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids

• fashionable African footmen/maids
• Portugal after ½ century slavery

= 150,000 slaves

Medium-Term: Labor

15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids

• fashionable African footmen/maids
• Portugal after ½ century slavery

= 150,000 slaves

Early on Spain/

Portugal uses

slaves for urban

and mine labor

Medium-Term: Labor

15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids

• fashionable African footmen/maids
• Portugal after ½ century slavery

= 150,000 slaves

Early on Spain/

Portugal uses

slaves for urban

and mine labor

1540s: Portuguese

imported slaves (Brazil)

Medium-Term: Labor

15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids

• fashionable African footmen/maids
• Portugal after ½ century slavery

= 150,000 slaves

1580s:dominant

Early on Spain/feature

Portugal uses

slaves for urban

and mine labor

1540s: Portuguese

imported slaves (Brazil)

Medium-Term: Labor

15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids

• fashionable African footmen/maids
• Portugal after ½ century slavery

= 150,000 slaves

1640s: Britain

importedto Caribbean

1580s:dominant

Early on Spain/feature

Portugal uses

slaves for urban

and mine labor

1540s: Portuguese

imported slaves (Brazil)

Medium-Term: Labor

15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids

• fashionable African footmen/maids
• Portugal after ½ century slavery

= 150,000 slaves

1640s: Britain

importedto Caribbean

1580s:dominant

Early on Spain/feature

Portugal uses17th century: slavery adapted to tobacco

slaves for urbanplantations in North America

and mine labor-Brits/French/Dutch tryEuropean laborers, but

1540s: PortugueseAfrican slavery success in

imported slaves (Brazil)tropics exported elsewhere

Medium-Term: Labor

15th/early 16thcenturies:Portugueseraids

• fashionable African footmen/maids
• Portugal after ½ century slavery18thcentury: slavery adapted

= 150,000 slavesfor cotton

1640s: Britain

importedto Caribbean

1580s:dominant

Early on Spain/feature

Portugal uses17th century: slavery adapted to tobacco

slaves for urbanplantations in North America

and mine labor-Brits/French/Dutch tryEuropean laborers, but

1540s: PortugueseAfrican slavery success in

imported slaves (Brazil)tropics exported elsewhere

Medium-Term: Labor

Medium-Term: Labor

• 450 years11.7 million slaves(Atlantic trade)
• Most captured by Africans

WHY DID AFRICANS COOPERATE?

1. Europeans paid high price forslaves because demand for sugarwas high
2. low pop. density had alreadymade labor (and slaves) valuableexisting mechanisms supplied Eurodemand

367,000

1,868,000

6,133,000

3,330,000

-

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

1460-1600

1601-1700

1701-1801

1801-1900

Theories of Slavery

Slavery and Climate

• Extreme weather events disrupt society

Theories:

• Droughtdecreasedslavery by increasing associatedcosts

• Agriculture fails
• Population declines
• Difficult to raise taxes/lower productivity
• Higher slave mortality

• Sub-humid/savannah regions: more sensitive to change

Theories of Slavery

Slavery and Climate

• Extreme weather events disrupt society

Theories:

• Droughtincreasedslavery

• Population disruptedmore conflict
• People without food migratemore vulnerable tocapture
• People sell themselves into slavery

• Some historians say Africa experienced prolonged dryspell from 1630-1860

Theories of Slavery

Slavery and Climate

• NOT TO EXCUSE RESPONSIBILITY
• Such numbers only possible because ofEuropean demand

How did climate affect slavetrade?

Discussion: Marks“Empires”

• What are changes to the world from 1500-1775?

• Political changes
• Economic/trade-related
• Social changes
• Environmental changes

• What is causing some regions/empires to expand and otherto contract?

• What resources do empires need? Why?
• How do climate and geography affect the search for thoseresources?
• Give examples from Asia, Middle East, Europe and pre-ColumbianAmericas.

• With Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, how do Europeansmodify the environment for economic interests?

Agenda

1. read excerpt of Parker’sGlobal CrisisonBlackboard
2. read Marks 86-96
3. Quiz #6 next Wedquestions from both