1.9 Increasing Contact with Europe

Portugal opens Atlantic trade routes

In the 15th century, Portuguese explorers sailed down the West African coast seeking gold, spices, and a sea route to Asia. This launched sustained European-African contact, leading to trading posts along the coast and eventually shifting from trade in goods to trade in enslaved people.

African kingdoms as trading partners

Coastal African states like the Kingdom of Kongo and Benin initially engaged Europeans as equal trading partners, exchanging gold, ivory, textiles, and pepper. Rulers like Nzinga Mbemba (Afonso I) of Kongo adopted Christianity and European customs while trying to control trade terms and limit exploitation.

Shift toward the slave trade

Over time, European demand shifted toward enslaved labor for plantations in Atlantic islands (like São Tomé) and later the Americas. This gradual transformation of trade relationships set the stage for the transatlantic slave trade, disrupting existing African political and economic systems.

Key terms

Portuguese exploration (15th century)

Voyages down the West African coast seeking gold, spices, and a sea route to Asia, establishing early European-African contact.

Kingdom of Kongo

A powerful West-Central African kingdom that engaged in trade with Portugal and whose ruler Afonso I adopted Christianity.

Afonso I (Nzinga Mbemba)

King of Kongo who converted to Christianity and tried to control trade terms with Portuguese merchants.

São Tomé

Atlantic island plantation colony where rising labor demand contributed to the shift toward the slave trade.

Shift in trade relations

Early equal trade in goods (gold, ivory, textiles) gradually transformed into the exploitative transatlantic slave trade.

Try an AP-style question

The Portuguese first arrived on West Africa's coast in the…

1. 1200s
2. 1600s
3. 1400s
4. 1800s