Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about the kingdoms of the Sahel and how the arrival of European traders in the region began to destabilise West Africa. Pupils build a deep knowledge of Transatlantic Slavery whilst retaining a focus on the impacts it had in West Africa.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how the Transatlantic Slave Trade grew and destabilised West African kingdoms.

Key Notes

• 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.

Vocabulary To Learn

• 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 Mistakes To Avoid

• All African kingdoms and rulers willingly participated in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• British involvement in Transatlantic Slave Trade Study Guide
• The arrival of European traders in West Africa Study Guide
• The impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on West African society Study Guide
• The kingdoms of the Sahel Study Guide
• The structure of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Study Guide