Question

Describe Africa's role in the global economy during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. (1 point)
Africans in the Kingdom of Kongo
• primarily profited off of the slave trade with Asia.
Africa sold gold, ivory, and
• enslaved people while under the control of Portugal.
Africans sold enslaved people to the Middle East to do hard labor.
Africans sold pottery, silks,
• glassware, and porcelain to Asia and the Middle East.

Answer 1

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Africa played a significant role in the global economy primarily through its involvement in trade, particularly in the context of the transatlantic slave trade and the export of valuable resources. The Kingdom of Kongo, for instance, engaged actively in the slave trade, with many Africans being sold into slavery to meet the labor demands in both the Americas and the Middle East. Additionally, Africa exported precious commodities such as gold and ivory, which were highly sought after. The Portuguese, in particular, exercised control over various coastal regions and facilitated the trade of enslaved people while also tapping into Africa's rich natural resources, shaping Africa's economic interactions on a global scale. Overall, African regions contributed significantly to the economies of Europe and Asia through the exchange of enslaved individuals and valuable goods.