Economics 172 Issues in African Economic Development Lecture 16 March 14, 2006.
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Transcript of Economics 172 Issues in African Economic Development Lecture 16 March 14, 2006.
Economics 172 2
Outline:
(1) Introduction to Part II of the course
(2) Slavery in African history
(3) Impacts of slavery on African economic development (Nunn 2005)
Economics 172 7
Slavery in African history
• Large numbers of Africans were forcibly enslaved during the 15th-19th centuries, starting with the Portuguese in Congo in the 15th century
Economics 172 9
Slavery in African history
• Large numbers of Africans were forcibly enslaved during the 15th-19th centuries, starting with the Portuguese in Congo in the 15th century
Atlantic Ocean trade 11-13 million
Sahara, Red Sea trade 5 million
Indian Ocean trade 2 million
TOTAL 18-20 million
Economics 172 11
Slavery in African history
• At the peak of the trade in the 18th century, huge numbers of Africans were being captured every year:
# people / year (range)
1450-1600 2,500-7,441
1601-1700 13,324-18,680
1701-1800 61,300-97,469
Late 1800s 33,300-50,230
Economics 172 12
Why was Africa targeted by slave traders?
• Location relatively close to the Americas
Economics 172 13
Why was Africa targeted by slave traders?
• Location relatively close to the Americas
• Pre-existing internal slave networks: in the late 1800s, 18-44% of Africans were slaves of other Africans (based on early European colonial surveys)
Economics 172 14
Why was Africa targeted by slave traders?
• Location relatively close to the Americas
• Pre-existing internal slave networks
• Less military might (e.g., compared to Asia)
Economics 172 15
Why was Africa targeted by slave traders?
• Location relatively close to the Americas
• Pre-existing internal slave networks
• Less military might (e.g., compared to Asia)
• Others?
Economics 172 16
What impact of the slave trade on society?
• Lower population density less urbanization
Economics 172 17
What impact of the slave trade on society?
• Lower population density less urbanization
• Strategies to avoid capture lower output
Economics 172 18
What impact of the slave trade on society?
• Lower population density less urbanization
• Strategies to avoid capture lower output
• Shorter time horizons less investment
• Efforts diverted into slaving, away from production
Economics 172 19
What impact of the slave trade on society?
• Lower population density less urbanization
• Strategies to avoid capture lower output
• Shorter time horizons less investment
• Efforts diverted into slaving, away from production
• Radical changes in the nature of political power
Economics 172 20
What impact of the slave trade on society?
• Lower population density less urbanization
• Strategies to avoid capture lower output
• Shorter time horizons less investment
• Efforts diverted into slaving, away from production
• Radical changes in the nature of political power
• Breakdown of social cooperation, cultural changes