British Slave Trade and its Abolition
History students need to support their study of historical topics from a variety of sources. This web page (Source A) will assist students in understanding types of slavery in West Africa and the early intervention by the King of Benin to put a stop to the growing Atlantic Slave Trade.
Go To website --->
Exam tips from BBC Bitesize:
- A source is never completely useless or completely useful.
- Biased, unreliable sources can still be useful.
- Think about what the source might be useful for.
- You may need to add in your own knowledge to make complete sense of the source.
Evidence source A
Read this web page: Statement of involvement of Benin Empire in the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Question
How useful is this source for finding out about the Atlantic Slave Trade history?
Evidence source B
The Oba (of Benin), needing more manpower himself, decided to limit the outward flow of males – and then, from about 1550, to prohibit slave exports altogether.’ (Disney, 2009, p.63)
Questions
How useful is this information in showing awareness of the King of Benin of consequences of depletion of the African population through slave exports?
To what extent does this legislation of the Oba of Benin affect the growth of the trade and exports of African Slaves?
After this ban, explain how the slave trade expanded. Support your answer with facts.
How did this lucrative trade in slaves eventually affect the development of the African continent? Support your answer with facts and figures.
From the 1770s, to what extent was the abolitionist movement important in bringing about the end of the slave trade?
Useful links
A History of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire: http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/43188/frontmatter/
9780521843188_frontmatter.pdf
Active History, The Transatlantic Slave Trade: https://www.activehistory.co.uk/Miscellaneous/menus/
Year_9/Triangular_Slave_Trade.htm
BBC Bitesize, Biased Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/
examskills/biasedsourcesrev1.shtml
BBC Bitesize, The triangular trade: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zqv7hyc/revision/1
Guide to the Studying the Atlantic Slave System:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bbain/display/courseshs/
historyproblems/atlantictrade/slavequestions.htm
Understanding Slavery Initiative: http://www.understandingslavery.com/index.html