Portugal’s Influence on The Kingdom of Kongo The slave trade has been argued to be one of the world’s most disastrous eras and its history is deeply rooted in Central-West Africa. In the early 16th century, The Kingdom of Kongo’s ruler, King Afonso I, addressed the King of Portugal in a series of letters where he expressed his concerns about their interconnected trading system; in which merchandise and slaves were exchanged between both states. Portugal noticed the naivety of the Kongo’s leader so they continued to depopulate their land which led to The Kingdom of Kongo’s gradual decline. The Kingdom of Kongo was once thriving at a rapid pace. The population was growing, new crops from Southeast Asia filled their forests, and
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King Afonso knew that his prisoners would be traded but not higher class individuals to be taken without permission. Portugal’s greediness was starting to be noticed and the population of the Kingdom of Kongo was on a steady decline. Although King Afonso was concerned for his Kingdom, he still respected Portugal for what they introduced him to. In his first letter, King Afonso addressed the issue of greedy slave trade very negligibly. He wrote, “Again we beg of Your Highness to agree with it . . . I kiss your hands many times,” (N. Mbemba, personal communication July 6, 1526). King Afonso I seemed indebted to Portugal; he continued to use the religion he adopted from them to try to establish a connection between both states. In this letter, he asks Portugal to stop taking his people but he did not demand a stop. His people were being taken during this time and he continued to hold Portugal in such bright light. Because of Portugal’s superior nature The Kingdom of Kongo began to decline. King Afonso I was naïve in failing to realize what would come due to his obsession with Portugal’s good attributes. One may argue that depopulation of Kingdom of Kongo was not a result of …show more content…
Mbemba, personal communication October 18, 1526). King Afonso shifted from asking for clarification from the Portuguese to demanding the slave trade to stop. He was upset that so many of his people were transported elsewhere to be sold and treated like property. King Afonso I was no longer looking to Portugal as the embodiment of power. He wrote “Since it is from God in the first place and then from your Kingdoms and from Your Highness,” (N. Mbemba, personal communication October 18, 1526). He realizes that Portugal was taking advantage of his Kingdom and abusing their trade agreements. King Afonso I’s letters to the King of Portugal gives an insight into the early years of the slave trade. African Kingdoms gain power, status, and wealth when working with European states but many times become blind to their wrong-doings and focus on their praiseworthy attributes. Without strong leadership, African Kingdoms collapsed due to depopulation of their countries from the mass exportation of their natives to other lands. As witnessed in the Kingdom of Kongo, King Afonso’s naivety caused him to fail to realize the
King Afonso knew that his prisoners would be traded but not higher class individuals to be taken without permission. Portugal’s greediness was starting to be noticed and the population of the Kingdom of Kongo was on a steady decline. Although King Afonso was concerned for his Kingdom, he still respected Portugal for what they introduced him to. In his first letter, King Afonso addressed the issue of greedy slave trade very negligibly. He wrote, “Again we beg of Your Highness to agree with it . . . I kiss your hands many times,” (N. Mbemba, personal communication July 6, 1526). King Afonso I seemed indebted to Portugal; he continued to use the religion he adopted from them to try to establish a connection between both states. In this letter, he asks Portugal to stop taking his people but he did not demand a stop. His people were being taken during this time and he continued to hold Portugal in such bright light. Because of Portugal’s superior nature The Kingdom of Kongo began to decline. King Afonso I was naïve in failing to realize what would come due to his obsession with Portugal’s good attributes. One may argue that depopulation of Kingdom of Kongo was not a result of …show more content…
Mbemba, personal communication October 18, 1526). King Afonso shifted from asking for clarification from the Portuguese to demanding the slave trade to stop. He was upset that so many of his people were transported elsewhere to be sold and treated like property. King Afonso I was no longer looking to Portugal as the embodiment of power. He wrote “Since it is from God in the first place and then from your Kingdoms and from Your Highness,” (N. Mbemba, personal communication October 18, 1526). He realizes that Portugal was taking advantage of his Kingdom and abusing their trade agreements. King Afonso I’s letters to the King of Portugal gives an insight into the early years of the slave trade. African Kingdoms gain power, status, and wealth when working with European states but many times become blind to their wrong-doings and focus on their praiseworthy attributes. Without strong leadership, African Kingdoms collapsed due to depopulation of their countries from the mass exportation of their natives to other lands. As witnessed in the Kingdom of Kongo, King Afonso’s naivety caused him to fail to realize the