Forestlands-Coastal & Central Africa:

Benin•Few records of southern forest & Sudanic savannah kingdoms•Benin=best example•Edo speakers•Practiced patrilineal primogenitureauthority is age-based•Village was political unit (BELOW: Benin City)•Kingdom originated by neighboring Ife prince•Edo King called oba, Ife ruler called uzama

Benin

• King Ewuare brought Benin to importance in 15th centurybuilt capital, est. government with chiefs & council, wars of expansion

• Over time obas became religious rather than military rulers

• Obas chosen by uzamas

Benin Art• Lasting significance lies in

court artbrass, bronze, terra-cotta, ivory sculptures

• LEFT:The Oba was considered to be divine & serves as the link between the spiritual and the physical realms. The Oba was often symbolized by the mudfish, a creature able to leave the water & survive on land as well as deliver an electric shock.

Europeans arrive on the Coast

• Trade with Europe & Americas characterizes 1500-1800

• Europeans name coastal regions and import American food crops

Europeans in Sengambia• In west Africa, 1st region

affected by European trade• Near Sengal & Gambia rivers• Maritime trade in gold, salt,

cotton, hides & copper• 1/3 of all Africa slaves

exported during the 16th century came from Senegambia (focus shifts SE)

• Region came to be dominated by Portuguese & British (Gamia River) & French (Senegal River)

Europeans on the Gold Coast

• After 1500, outlet for gold

• After 1600, European companies built forts to protect trade

• Traded in gold, kola nuts, brought American maize & cassava

• Slavery not big business until late 17th century, then disrupted mining Gold Coast

Europeans in Central Africa• Swamps north, rain

forests west, highlands east, deserts southimpeded trade & contact until 1500

• Portuguese looked for gold & silver, took ivory, palm cloth & slaves for sugar plantations on nearby island, Sao Thomé & Brazil

• In 1640s Dutch traders brought slaves to Caribbean

Europeans in Kongo

• Major state that dealt with Portuguese in central Africa

• Located on fertile Zaire River valley

• Kingdom based on tax & tribute, divine king

• By 1600 ½ size England (weaving, pottery, salt, fish, metals)

• Traded for luxury textiles, tobacco, alcohol from north for slaves

• Portuguese did proselytize @ 1st then focused on slavery alone

Kongo• Early 16th century Kongo ruler King

Affonso I was a Christian convert who welcomed Jesuit missionaries (BELOW: his baptism)

• Tried to curb exploitative slaving practices by corresponding with Portuguese king

• Lost ½ empire to slavery local leaders dealt with Portuguese traders directly

• Struggle for authority led to fragmentation of empire & withdrawal of Portuguese

• Revival in 17th century of strong Christian monarchs

Angola

• 1575 became 1st white colonial enterprise in black Africa

• Portuguese tried & failed to colonize & “civilize” region (Dutch briefly interested)

• Heavy slaving depopulation, trade in American goods

• Relationship devastated the region

• Angola finally independent in 1975