1.3 Life in West Africa in the 1500's

What was the primary reason for the enslavement of West African people by many British colonies?

• To work in European factories

• For domestic work in Britain

• To serve as soldiers

• For labor on large farms in the Southern Colonies

How did the Portuguese traders first enslave people in West Africa?

• By trading guns and other goods

• By kidnapping them during raids

• By winning wars against West African empires

• Through trade agreements with African leaders

What was a common aspect of life in West Africa in the 1500s?

• Most people were enslaved

• Most people lived in cities

• The region was mostly desert

• Farming was a common occupation

Which of the following was NOT a reason for the diversity in West African cultures?

• Different economic activities

• Uniform religious practices

• Different languages

• Various forms of government

How did enslaved Africans reach the Americas?

• On horseback across Africa, then by ship

• They were transported entirely by land

• Via a network of underground tunnels

• By walking across Africa to the western coast, then by ship

What role did family play in West African societies in the 1500s?

• Discouraged in favor of individualism

• Central to social and economic life

• No significant role

• Only important in certain regions

What justified the enslavement of West Africans according to many Europeans?

• Military conquests

• Racial ideologies

• Religious beliefs

• Economic necessity

Which of the following was NOT a method by which West Africans were enslaved and transported to the Americas?

• Auctioned off in North America

• Forced marches across Africa

• Harsh conditions on ships

• Voluntary migration

What was a common tradition across different West African cultures?

• Storytelling

• Ice skating

• Desert farming

• Seafaring

Where did the people that were sold as slaves come from?

• Africa

• Ireland

• Mexico

• Europe