enslaved people are people who have been forced to work without pay, lose their freedom and become the property of another person

Oba is the word used in the Benin Empire to describe the figure who was both ruler and spiritual leader

prisoners of war are people captured by the opposing side during a war

The expansion of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

History

The kingdoms of the Sahel

The arrival of European traders in West Africa

The structure of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

British involvement in Transatlantic Slave Trade

The impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on West African society

In this unit, pupils analysed the effects of transatlantic slavery on West African societies. In ‘The Haitian Revolution: what was its role in the abolition of the slave trade?’, pupils will investigate how the Haitian Revolution challenged and contributed to the fight against slavery.

In ‘Medieval West Africa: why was medieval Mali so successful?’, pupils explored the economic and social structures that contributed to Mali’s prosperity. In this unit, pupils examine how West African societies like Mali were devastated by the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

In this unit, pupils learn about the kingdoms of the Sahel and how the arrival of European traders in the region began to destabilise West Africa. Pupils build a deep knowledge of Transatlantic Slavery whilst retaining a focus on the impacts it had in West Africa.

Transatlantic Slavery: how were West African societies impacted?

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

By 1600, how many people had the Portuguese sold into slavery in the Americas?

the word used in the kingdom of Benin to describe enslaved people

the word used in the kingdom of Benin to describe the Portuguese

the word used in the kingdom of Mali to describe their ruler

the word used in the kingdom of Benin to describe their ruler

Which **one** of the following is the best defintion of an 'Oba'?

the word used in the kingdom of Benin to describe the ruler

to make someone to become the legal property of someone else

people captured by the opposing side during a war

Match each word to the correct definition

the Obas only refused for a short period of time, but then willingly agreed

other kingdoms continued to sell people to the Europeans to enslave (eg. Allada)

the Portuguese forced the Obas to change their mind after a short period of time

Which **one** of the following explains why the Transatlantic Slave Trade continued to expand even though the Obas of Benin refused to trade enslaved people?

Who took control of Elmina castle in 1637?

they began to build relationships with European merchants

the European merchants would always overthrow their ruler

they could also face harsh peace treaties if their European allies lost a war

all European merchants intentionally started wars between kingdoms

Which **two** of the following best explains why kingdoms in West Africa suffered as a result of competing European merchants?

Which European nation was the first to arrive on the West African coast in the 1400s and began to trade enslaved people from the 1500s?

Which **two** of the following nations had started building large empires in the Americas in the 1500s?

When the Portuguese first arrived in West Africa, they intended to trade their goods for ...

Which **two** of the following are names given for the three-point trade between Europe, West Africa and the Americas, that involved the trade of enslaved people?

they won wars against the Portuguese and Dutch

they established peaceful relationships with the European merchants

the European merchants could not reach the kingdom of Benin

How did the kingdom of Benin continue to thrive, despite their leaders refusing to sell their people to the European merchants to enslave?

When enslaved people were taken from West Africa by European merchants, which continent were they taken to?

Starter Quiz