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Global Africans

Zoe Green

Zoe Green

9 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers early African-European interactions (15th-16th centuries), focusing on trade dynamics between West Africa and Portugal, the African presence in Iberian and Mediterranean cities, and the roles Africans played. It examines Portuguese slavery's impact on the Americas, including colonization of Atlantic islands and the expansion of the slave trade. The guide also analyzes the Chafariz d'El-Rey artwork as a primary source. It provides memory aids, practice questions (multiple-choice, short answer, and free response), and exam tips for AP African American Studies.

AP African American Studies: Night Before Review 🚀

Hey! Let's make sure you're feeling super confident for tomorrow. We're going to break down the key stuff, make it stick, and get you ready to ace this exam! Remember, you've got this! 💪

1. Early African-European Interactions (15th-16th Century)

1.1 West African-Portuguese Trade Growth

Key Concept
  • Key Focus: The shift in trade dynamics and its impact on both African kingdoms and European involvement.
- **Trade Dynamics:** - Late 15th century: Increased trade between West African kingdoms and Portugal. - Goods: Gold, goods, and enslaved people were exchanged. - Shift: Bypassed traditional trans-Saharan routes. - **Impact on African Kingdoms:** - Wealth: Increased wealth and power for kingdoms involved (e.g., Kongo, Benin). - Slave Trading: A common feature of hierarchical West African societies at the time. - **Examples:** - Kingdom of Kongo - Kingdom of Benin

1.2 African Presence in Iberian Cities

Key Concept
  • Key Focus: The growing presence of Africans in European cities and their diverse roles.
- **Growth Factors:** - Increased trade led to a larger European presence in West Africa (merchants, outposts). - Sub-Saharan African populations grew in Iberian port cities (Lisbon, Seville). - Enslaved Africans were brought to these cities. - Some Africans traveled as merchants, diplomats, and scholars. - **Examples:** - Lisbon, Portugal - Seville, Spain

1.3 African Elites in Mediterranean Cities

Key Concept
  • Key Focus: The varied roles and reasons for African elites' presence in Mediterranean cities.
- **Reasons for Travel:** - Diplomacy: Establishing and maintaining relations with European powers. - Education: Learning about European culture, language, and technology. - Religion: Pilgrimages to Christian holy sites. - **Roles in Mediterranean Cities:** - Diverse roles for both free and enslaved Africans: - Domestic labor (cooks, maids, nannies) - Boatmen and dock workers - Guards and soldiers - Entertainers (musicians, dancers, acrobats) - Street vendors and small business owners - Rare cases: Knights and members of the aristocracy - **Examples:** - Rome, Italy - Valencia, Spain

2. Portuguese Slavery and its Impact on the Americas

2.1 Portuguese Colonization of Atlantic Islands

Key Concept
  • Key Focus: How Portuguese colonization of Atlantic islands set the stage for slavery in the Americas.
- **Timeline:** Mid-15th century: Portuguese colonization of Cabo Verde and São Tomé. - **Economic Activities:** - Established cotton, indigo, and sugar plantations. - Heavy reliance on enslaved African labor. - **Significance:** - Model for slave labor-based economies in the Americas. - Demonstrated the profitability of enslaved African labor in plantation agriculture. - Developed techniques for managing large populations of enslaved workers. 💡 - **Examples of Crops:** - Cotton - Indigo - Sugar...
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Question 1 of 12

🎉 What were the main goods exchanged between West African kingdoms and Portugal in the late 15th century?

Spices and silk

Gold, goods, and enslaved people

Silver and tea

Gems and livestock