The expansion of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
I can explain how the Transatlantic Slave Trade grew and destabilised West African kingdoms.
The expansion of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
I can explain how the Transatlantic Slave Trade grew and destabilised West African kingdoms.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Conflicts between local kingdoms would lead to prisoners of war who would be sold as enslaved people.
- The European involvement in the Slave trade led to more conflicts in West Africa leading to more enslaved people.
- Some kingdoms, like the kingdom of Benin, refused to trade with Europeans but would struggle as other kingdoms profited.
- Some African kingdoms, like the Allada kingdom, became reliant on trade with the Europeans for power and wealth.
- The nature of the trade in enslaved people changed, it was no longer just prisoners of war sold into slavery.
Keywords
Enslaved people - enslaved people are people who have been forced to work without pay, lose their freedom and become the property of another person
Oba - Oba is the word used in the Benin Empire to describe the figure who was both ruler and spiritual leader
Prisoners of war - prisoners of war are people captured by the opposing side during a war
Common misconception
All African kingdoms and rulers willingly participated in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Some kingdoms did cooperate, but many - like the Kingdom of Benin - also tried to resist by refusing to trade enslaved people.
To help you plan your year 8 history lesson on: The expansion of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 history lesson on: The expansion of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Transatlantic Slavery: how were West African societies impacted? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
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