IMPACT OF SLAVE TRADE

• 1. Describe Ghana or African society around Cape Coast prior to the Atlantic slave trade?

  • Ghanaian and African societies around Cape Coast were characterized by diverse cultures, vibrant economies based on trade, and complex social structures. Many societies were organized into kingdoms or city-states, such as the Ashanti Confederacy and the Fante Confederacy, with sophisticated political systems and rich oral traditions
• 1. What does the physical structure of Cape Coast Castle under the British, including its dungeons, tell us about the Atlantic slave trade?


  • The physical structure of Cape Coast Castle, with its cramped dungeons and oppressive architecture, reflects the brutal reality of the Atlantic slave trade. The dungeons were used to hold enslaved Africans before they were transported across the Atlantic, showcasing the inhumane conditions endured by millions of people
• 1. What were some of the economic impacts of the Atlantic slaving system on the coastal region?

  • It fueled the growth of commercial activity, as European traders exchanged goods such as firearms, textiles, and alcohol for enslaved Africans. However, it also disrupted local economies and societies, as communities were destabilized by the loss of their members to slavery
• 1. How did the Atlantic slaving system affect how people lived?

  • It led to the displacement of millions of Africans from their homes and communities, as well as the destruction of traditional social structures. Many societies were reshaped by the trauma and loss caused by the slave trade, resulting in long-lasting cultural and social consequences
• 1. What were the impacts of the Atlantic slaving system?

  • They include the loss of millions of lives, the destruction of families and communities, the perpetuation of racial inequality and discrimination, and the long-term economic exploitation of African nations
• How did the Atlantic slave trade, in the dungeons of Cape Coast Castle, affect Africa?

  • It had had devastating effects on Africa. It contributed to the depopulation of entire regions, disrupted local economies and societies, and perpetuated cycles of violence and exploitation. The legacy of the slave trade continues to shape the social, economic, and political landscape of the continent
• Atlantic slave trade

  Trade of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean
• Atlantic slave trade affected Ghana (1)

  Reorganized social structures, disrupted traditional kinship systems
• Atlantic slave trade affected Ghana (2)

  Increased reliance on trade in enslaved Africans, impacted economic development and global integration
• The specific impacts of the slave trade varied across different regions of Africa
• The legacy of the Atlantic slave trade includes exploitation, trauma, and inequality throughout the continent of Africa