The best response to illustrate the impact of global trade on both the Kingdom of Kongo and the Swahili coast during the seventeenth century is:
The Kingdom of Kongo lost control of the slave trade, while the Swahili coast lost its power to extract resources.
In this context:
- The Kingdom of Kongo, which had previously benefited from the slave trade, faced increasing pressure and competition from other European powers and internal strife, leading to a loss of its influence and control in the trade networks.
- The Swahili coast, which was involved in trade of gold, ivory, and other goods, experienced a decline in its power as European powers, particularly the Portuguese and later the British, took over the lucrative trade routes and disrupted local economies by monopolizing trade and diminishing the local sultans’ authority.
These changes highlight the differing ways in which global trade routes and colonial ambitions affected these two regions.