Slavery And The Collaps Of Kongo

Question 1

Economic impacts of slavery on Kongo

Answer 1

• Economic - initial primary trades were not in slaves but in other goods such as cloth and copper, however there was a slave market within Kongo. Greater trade with Portugal creates a currency in slaves (500 sent to Lisbon as a gift by Afonso), but strict rules about who could be enslaved e.g criminals and restrictions in place.
• By 1560s, all trade international trade was conducted in the currency of enslaved people (through Luanda), other currencies decline and in later period restrictions collapse

Question 2

Political impacts of slavery on Kongo

Answer 2

• Afonso complained to the King of Portugal that his native free citizens were being taken illegally by Portuguese traders
• Foreign wars, notably Ndongo, provided more captured enslaved people for Kongo.
• Portufal takes advantage of Jaga invasions for illegal slave capture between 1568-70, Alvaro I pays ransom for their return
• When at peace, less freeborn people brought into slavery, Pedro II gets many returned from Brazil after appeal to Pope following a Spanish/Angolan invasion.
• Civil Wars in 1640s, increased profiteering by Mwissikongo Aliya’s who sold more freeborn people who had rebelled against them, or ‘did not show obedience’ to the Manikongo. The Kandas also became involved in slave raiding to protect themselves. in 1701 Pedro IV captured 58 people from a village burned down because local ruler was seen as a traitor.

Question 3

Social impacts of Slavery on Kongo

Answer 3

• Slavery appeared at the founding of the Kongo, by Lukeni Lua Nimi. Some peoples from lands that he conquered would have become slaves.
• Social hierarchy, but freeborn commoners under Kings protection. Growing urbanization of Mbanza Kongo drove need for slaves to work in agriculture, providing food for cities.
• By 1600s, foreign captives not enough to pay Portugese and more freeborn brought into slavery. By the late 1600s, people fled cities to avoid raiding parties

Question 4

War with Portugal (collapse of Kongo)

Answer 4

• Details in European relations section; led to increased tensions and slave raiding through São Tomé and Luanda. Alliances with the Dutch led to stiff penalties in 1648 when Holland defeated. Angolan based Brazilian leaders in the truce. Continued Kongolese resistance to this led to further war and decisive defeat at the Battle of Mbwila 1665. Manikongo Antonio I killed and 98 lineage heads, destroying the Mwissikongo

Question 5

Economic developments (collapse of Kongo)

Answer 5

• Manikongos attempted to demonstrate wealth and opulence (notably Garcia II), with jewels and mixing of Kongolese tradition with European finery
• Found it difficult to maintain in 1600s forcing them to become deeper involved in the Slavs trade and create greater tensions with the Kansas who were fighting back against centralization of both power and wealth into Mwissikongo hands.

Question 6

Tension between centralization and the Kanda System (