Slave Narratives and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

This lecture covers the transatlantic slave trade's impact on West African societies, detailing the three-part journey enslaved Africans endured: the march to the coast, the Middle Passage, and arrival at ports. It explores the destabilization of African societies due to the slave trade and highlights the significance of slave narratives in documenting these experiences. The lecture concludes with a recap of the journey and its lasting effects.

What was the primary reason for the capture of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade?

• To train them as soldiers for European armies

• To sell them for European goods and weapons

• To convert them to Christianity

• To increase the population of African kingdoms

Which of the following best describes the conditions on slave ships during the Middle Passage?

• Well-ventilated and clean

• Equipped with medical facilities

• Overcrowded and unsanitary

• Spacious and comfortable

Which disease was commonly spread among captives during the Middle Passage?

• Malaria

• Smallpox

• Cholera

• Tuberculosis

What was the purpose of the 'seasoning period' for newly arrived enslaved people?

• To prepare them for plantation work

• To allow them to reunite with family

• To teach them European languages

• To introduce them to local customs

How did the transatlantic slave trade affect the political stability of interior West African states?

• It had no significant impact

• It strengthened their political systems

• It led to increased stability and peace

• It caused instability and civil wars

Which kingdom is known for heavily engaging in the slave trade to maintain its wealth?

• The Mali Empire

• The Zulu Kingdom

• The Kingdom of Dahomey

• The Ashanti Kingdom

What was the impact of European firearms on West African societies during the slave trade?

• They had no significant impact

• They were primarily used for hunting

• They were used to defend against European invasions

• They exacerbated domestic wars between kingdoms

What is a slave narrative?

• A fictional story about African kingdoms

• A European perspective on the slave trade

• A historical account written by enslaved Africans

• A religious text from West Africa

Which of the following is a famous example of a slave narrative?

• The Diary of Anne Frank

• The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

• The Autobiography of Malcolm X

• The Confessions of Nat Turner

What role did slave narratives play in the abolition movement?

• They were only popular in Europe

• They were ignored by abolitionists

• They served as political texts advocating for abolition

• They were used to justify slavery