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

indentured labour is a system where someone is made to work without pay for a set period of time

chattel slavery is when people become legal property and cannot be freed without the permission of their slave holder

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

a society is a large group of people who live within the same area and usually share similar cultures and beliefs

The impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on West African society

History

These studies will be crucial in helping to inform pupils on the legacies of slavery and Empire. This will be useful when considering the Haitain Revolution and its role in the abolition of slavery 

Pupils will have an understanding of West African empires prior to European contact from their study of medieval Mali

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

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

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

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

What was the main item that attracted Muslim traders to West Africa before the arrival of the Portuguese?

How long did the Middle Passage journey typically last for enslaved people?

they were treated as indentured labourers

they were no longer taken as prisoners of war

What change occurred in the lives of local African people when the Portuguese started building colonies in the Americas?

Which kingdom suffered significant power loss due to Portuguese arrival and internal issues?

Wealthier groups were protected from enslavement

Only people of low social status were enslaved

More diverse groups, including the wealthy, faced the risk of enslavement

What impact did the expansion of the Transatlantic Slave Trade have on the social groups targeted for enslavement by the 1700s?

Strengthened alliances between African kingdoms

Strengthened the power of European merchants

Which of the following was a consequence of increased conflict between African kingdoms due to the expanding slave trade?

The first European merchants to arrive in West Africa were from which of the following countries?

What was the name of the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean that took enslaved people took to the Americas?

Which religion had spread to West Africa and converted many local rulers by the 1400s?

Which European nations initially became wealthy from using enslaved people from West Africa on their plantations in the Americas in the 1500s?

Which of the following countries played a significant role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade by transporting half of the enslaved people from West Africa to the Americas by 1700?

most lost power to the European merchants, but some were able to thrive

all kingdoms collapsed as result of the growing power of European merchants

all kingdoms continued to thrive, as most formed alliances

most continued to thrive, although some began weaker 

What happened to the power of West African kingdoms due to the arrival of European merchants?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

The impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on West African society

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.