David Milster / Northrop Reading: Africa–Europe Encounters and the Atlantic Slave Trade (Introduction)

Flashcards cover key concepts from the Northrop reading introduced in the lecture: African geography terms (Sahel, Sahel, West Africa, Swahili coast), ancient and medieval African civilizations, religious interactions (Christianity and Islam), legendary and geopolitical narratives (Prester John), early Portuguese exploration and slave trade origins (Cape Bojador, 1444), the El Mina fort, sugar and plantation dynamics, and the Atlantic slave trade's diasporic and racial implications.

What is the Sahel, and what does the Arabic term 'Sahel' signify in the Northrop reading?

The belt between the Sahara and the tropical belt; an Arabic term meaning shore, marking the transition from desert to more hospitable lands.

What region is referred to as West Africa in the Northrop discussion, and what lies to its south and north?

West Africa is the region south of the Sahara and north of the tropical forests; the Sahel lies to the north, and the tropical forest zone lies to the south.

Who were the Garamantes and why are they mentioned in relation to the Sahara?

An ancient group in the eastern Sahara described by Romans as a federation of states; they illustrate early state formation and interaction in the Sahara.

What is the Ethiopian Christian kingdom's significance in European imagination according to Northrop?

Ethiopia remained a Christian kingdom and was seen as a strategic, almost mythic Christian ally in Europe, shaping diplomatic and religious perceptions.

Who was Saint Augustine and why is he relevant to Africa’s contribution to Christian thought?

A Berber Christian from North Africa (roughly present-day Algeria) who significantly influenced early Christian and Catholic thought, illustrating African intellectual contribution.

What event in 1493 is described as a moment of crisis for Europe, and why is it significant?

The fall of Constantinople to the Turkish forces, seen as a major loss for Christian Europe and a shift in the balance of power toward the Muslim world.

How did Islam spread in Africa, and how did this affect European perceptions of Africa?

Islam spread from North Africa into sub-Saharan Africa from the 7th century onward, complicating European views of Africa and creating a Muslim world that Europe had to contend with.

What are the Moors, and how do they illustrate European depictions of Africans?

Muslims of African origin; the term Moors reflects European labeling and racialized views that emerged in the context of Christian–Muslim conflict.

What is Prester John, and why did Europeans look for him in relation to Africa?

A legendary Christian king purported to reside in Ethiopia; Europeans hoped to form an alliance with him to aid crusading efforts in the Holy Land.

Why is the Indian Ocean world central to early modern trade, and how does it relate to Africa?

Asia, especially India and China, was a manufacturing hub for spices and luxuries; European access to these goods depended on routes through the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, connecting Africa to these networks.

What is Cape Bojador, and why is crossing it in 1434 important?

A coastal point off West Africa; its crossing marked a milestone in Portuguese exploration and opened the door to further southward voyages.

What happened in 1444 that marks the beginning of a new phase in the Atlantic slave trade?

Portuguese forces kidnapped Africans in Morocco and took them to Portugal, marking one of the first enslaved Africans in European hands and signaling the start of broader slave trafficking.

What is El Mina, and why is it significant in West African Atlantic history?

El Mina (Elmina Castle) was completed in 1482 as the first European fort in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana); initially a gold trading post, it soon became a major slave trading port.

How did sugar production connect West Africa, Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the Americas?

Sugar cultivation spread from the Mediterranean/Islamic world to Atlantic islands like Madeira and Cape Verde; enslaved Africans supplied labor on these plantations, and the sugar economy was transplanted from Africa to the Americas (notably Brazil and the Caribbean).

What is meant by the term 'diaspora' in this lecture, and how does it relate to Africa and Europe?

The dispersal of Africans through the Atlantic slave trade, resulting in African communities across Europe and the Americas and shaping transatlantic cultural and demographic dynamics.

Why do Northrop's sources emphasize racialization and dehumanization in justifying slavery?

As slavery expanded, Europeans increasingly used racist justifications to deem Africans as inferior, enabling the exploitation and commodification of enslaved people for profit.