Questions and Answers
East African Slave Trade (900-1600) - - AnsweSlaves were traded to Persia, Egypt, and India for spices
mainly from the Lake Victoria region; Some men ended up as sailors and soldiers; some women were
used as sex slaves
Diaspora - - Answedispersed people that are removed/exiled from a common geographic region
Prince Henry - - Answe"The Navigator", opened a school that trained seamen in 1400. Between 1415-
1474, his students explored the Madeira islands, Canary Islands, Azores, and the Cape Verde Islands,
along with the West Coast of Africa. Brought the first slaves to Portugal in 1441. He was searching for
gold and a route to the spice islands in the east. Started a norm of trading slaves between Africans and
Europeans.
Portuguese exploration - - AnsweThe Portuguese dominated the world trade for nearly 200 years 15-
16th century. They led the way in sea exploration and were the first European country to be involved in
the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Reasons for their success: Geography (located along the west coast of
the Iberian Peninsula); Developed a complex maritime economy (Used as a base for financing
exploration and trading ventures); Monarchy (relatively stable monarchy encouraged maritime trade,
kings recognized their dependence on oversea trade). In 1415, the Portuguese slowly made their way
down to the West African coast and found trading posts. Main motives included search for spices, gold,
and to acquire African slaves. The Portuguese originally sought routes to India, because spices were
extremely rare at the time. Columbus had thought he reached the Indies, when in reality he was on the
Caribbean coastline (Hispaniola) (1492). By 1460, the Portuguese had explored all of the Western Coast
all the way to Sierra Leone. By 1498, Vasco de Gama had rounded the Cape of Good Hope and continued
, sailing into unknown waters along the East coast of the African continent. By 1511, they had mastered
all of the spice routes.
Papal Line of Demarcation (1493) - - Answecreated by Pope Alexander VI. Divided the Atlantic World
between Portugal and Spain. The Pope Alexander was from Spain, thus this line favored Spain in the
allotment of territory. Spain was granted land to the West in return for an agreement to Christianize the
native peoples of the New Word.
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) - - Answewas an agreement between Spain and Portugal aimed at settling
conflicts over land explored by voyages of the late 15th century. At Tordesillas (a small village in Spain),
ambassadors moved Pope Alexander's line further west, allowing Portugal to claim Brazil when it was
discovered by Pedro Cabral in 1500.
Out of Africa Route - - AnsweApproximately 100,000 years ago. Into India and Peopling of Eurasia. Some
destinations include North Russia, Iran, China, and India from Nigeria, Chad, and Kenya.
Bantu Migration - - Answe3,000 BCE. From Nigeria and Cameroon to the East coast of Africa (Indian
Ocean, Zimbabwe).
Trans Saharan Slave Trade (900-1500) - - AnsweBeginning of what becomes the capitalist system
(trading diaspora). Moved from Ghana (West Africa) to Middle East and Asia; Morocco to Ghana;
crossed the Sahara Desert; merchants carried silk, dates, and salt; and received gold, ivory, gum, and
servitude slaves. The trade route connected many African empires to the European World such as
Ghana, Mali, and Songhay
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (1500-late 1800's) - - AnsweOver 200,000 slaves to European colonies and
another 11 to 12 million to the Americas and the Caribbean; From Western Africa (Bight of Benin, Bight
of Biafra, West Central Africa); most went to Brazil
Movement today in and out of Africa - - AnsweBegan after slavery's demise in the 19th century and
continues
Moors - - AnsweNorth African Muslims who ruled Spain and Portugal from 711 to their expulsion from
Spain along with Jews. Moors were initially expelled from Portugal in 1200's but final expulsion was in