Discussion Questions Transformation of the economic, political, and social patterns of indigenous African communities through the Atlantic Slave Trade

 
Economic
Indigenous Africans concentrated on resin, orchil, gold, spices, cattle, and people as
resources that determined their commercial prowess before the Atlantic slave trade. Senegal and
Gambians traded iron and stored them in their household as an example of economic superiority
(M'Baye, 2006, p. 611). The situation explains the economic stability and sufficiency among
indigenous African before the coming of Europeans and the Atlantic slave trade initiation. The
Atlantic trade transitioned the Africans economic stability to economic inequality since chiefs
and warlords liaised with European countries to oppress their own and ensure that they achieved
economic supremacy over other local people in Africa (M'Baye, 2006, p. 611). The trade further
transformed the economy negatively due to the loss of skills, technological expertise, top talents,
and productive African men sold during the Atlantic slave trade.
Social
Before the Atlantic slave trade, there was unity, peace, and cohesion among indigenous
Africans. The division and lust that accompanied European countries engaged in the Atlantic
slave trade such as Portugal, led to intertribal wars, instability, hate, and division among
indigenous Africans (M'Baye, 2006, p. 617). The present-day instability witnessed in many
African countries arose mainly from the Atlantic slave trade since the love for money and fame
arising from slave commercialization was a blow to peace and unity as social patterns that
indigenous Africans revered. The loss of strong African men negatively impacted social security
since women were not in a pole position to protect their household from external attacks

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 3
(M'Baye, 2006, p. 618). The rise of family woes and instability arose since men who were the
head of families were traded to European countries. The Atlantic trade therefore transformed
indigenous African families and entire society negatively.
Political
African had an ideal political balance before the introduction of the Atlantic trade.
Africans began preying on each other since the slave trade acted as a source of authority and
power. The situation contributed to political violence and power struggle among the African
slave traders. For instance, in 1770, the King of Greej Dynasty organized grand pillages in the
Kajhoor and Bawool Kingdoms, in northwestern and central Senegal, kidnapping slaves who
later sold to the European Goree Island (M'Baye, 2006, p. 611). The sales led to tensions among
kingdoms and the political and instability witnessed in Senegal and other African countries
strongly affected by the Atlantic slave trade.

Describe this commercialization and its subsequent effects.

The aftermath of the Atlantic trade was dire in the African countries. African economies
were mainly run on financial gains arising from the slave trade and European influence. After the
abolition of the slave trade, European turned their attention to exploring African resources
(Hermann, 2014, p. 3). The concentration on the African resources contributed to the commercial
sales of the resources. Europeans integrated Africans into the labor market, a situation that
defined the commercialization of the African economies. Since African were peaceful and
believed in the barter trade, the monetary aspect's inclusion in exchange for the resources dealt
the economic and social unity a blow. The tension that arose between African intermediaries and
rulers contributed to the loss of lives and overdependence on the monetary factors as
determinants of political and social supremacy (Hermann, 2014, p. 3). The rulers intended to

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 4
gain control over resources and have the upper hand in British trade. At the same time, the
middlemen also intended to cement their authority in Africans after the abolition of the slave
trade. The tension led to the collapse of the indigenous African political authority.
Commercialization of African economies further contributed to the need for an
adaptation by the canoe industry, mainly in Nigeria. Since the political and economic tension
was prevalent, Africans adapted to the changes and the stability of the economy regardless of
negative external forces from European invasion in African markets (Hermann, 2014, p. 3). The
commercialization of the African economy that involved the trading of African resources with
European countries for fame and monetary gains also led to a power struggle since British rulers
frustrated leaders who resisted their policies.