Chapter 16

Section 4 – Turbulent Centuries in Africa

1500s - 2,000 slaves were sent each year 1780s - 80,000 a year

10 million Africans (estimated) were sent to the Americas and approximately 2 million died in route

Some small African states disappeared as new slave trading states emerged

The new states waged war to gain control of slave trade profits

New states in West Africa were the Oyo, Bornu, Dahomey, and Asante kingdoms

In the late 1600s, Osei Tutu conquered neighboring peoples and organized the Asante kingdom

In the 1700s and 1800s, an Islamic revival in West Africa began with the Fulani people

Reforms were based on the Sharia (Islamic law) and a powerful Islamic state was established

Mosque in Djenne, Mali

Literacy increased, local wars quieted, and trade improved, inspiring other reform movements

In 1652, the Dutch arrived in southern Africa and built Cape Town

Dutch farmers, called Boers, also settled around Cape Town

In the 1700s, Boers began to push north from the Cape Colony and battled several powerful African groups

A ruthless and brilliant Zulu leader, Shaka, emerged in the early 1800s

Between 1818 and 1828, Shaka waged war, conquering many nearby peoples and creating the Zulu kingdom

Shaka's half brother took over and the Zulus faced a new threat: well-armed, mounted Boers migrating north

In 1815, the Cape Colony passed to the British - many Boers resented British laws that interfered in their way of life

In the 1830s the Boers started north in what became known as the "Great Trek'

The migrating Boers came into contact with Zulus and fighting quickly broke out

At first, the Zulus held their own but in the end, Zulu spears could not defeat Boer guns

The struggle for control of the land would rage until the end of the century