As of 1450, after the Great Convergence of the world that took place in the wake of the Columbian Crossings, a new system was developed- The Atlantic Rim. It all started when the European sailors explored the Eastern Atlantic to fulfill their profit-seeking objectives. These European sailors sailed to look for islands or African coastal points where they might trade, raid, fish or even settle. Their main objective was to make maximum profit out of the African territories and use their resources in the most efficient way possible. Another main objective of the European sailors was to find a Christian kingdom in the Africa, so that they could ally with the Christian kingdom and take over most of the African colonies causing the extinct of
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It impacted many countries and besides, it affected the individuals and peoples too. Before the end of the fifteenth century, the Portuguese entered into a relation with Benin and Kongo. The kingdom of Benin entered into a trading relationship with the Portuguese which facilitated the Portuguese to buy pepper, cloth, and slaves from Benin. The Portuguese then exported the slaves, pepper, and cloth to European countries and in the Americas. However, the selling of slaves to Portuguese came to an end in the 1550’s because the kingdom of Benin was in a state of war to colonize other African territories. So, in order to acquire the other territories, they needed more army force due to which the king of Benin developed a policy which prevented the sales of slaves to the Portuguese. Although, the kingdom of Benin had stopped selling slaves, both the Portuguese and the Benin’s profited much from the trade that happened between the two countries. This improved economic status of both the countries. Likewise, in contrast to the relation of the Portuguese and the Benin’s, the early encounters between the Portuguese and the Kongolese was a chaotic one. It disrupted the political and social conditions of Kongo. The Portuguese were eager to convert the Kongolese’s religion to Christianity, which they successfully did at the early fifteenth century. The Portuguese sent mercenaries, women, gunpowder and weapons, troops, and priests to Kongo. The king of Kongo changed his religion into Christianity and acquired the throne under the name Afonso I. The kingdom of Kongo entered into trading relations with the Portuguese. They traded pepper, gold, and mostly slaves in exchange for
It impacted many countries and besides, it affected the individuals and peoples too. Before the end of the fifteenth century, the Portuguese entered into a relation with Benin and Kongo. The kingdom of Benin entered into a trading relationship with the Portuguese which facilitated the Portuguese to buy pepper, cloth, and slaves from Benin. The Portuguese then exported the slaves, pepper, and cloth to European countries and in the Americas. However, the selling of slaves to Portuguese came to an end in the 1550’s because the kingdom of Benin was in a state of war to colonize other African territories. So, in order to acquire the other territories, they needed more army force due to which the king of Benin developed a policy which prevented the sales of slaves to the Portuguese. Although, the kingdom of Benin had stopped selling slaves, both the Portuguese and the Benin’s profited much from the trade that happened between the two countries. This improved economic status of both the countries. Likewise, in contrast to the relation of the Portuguese and the Benin’s, the early encounters between the Portuguese and the Kongolese was a chaotic one. It disrupted the political and social conditions of Kongo. The Portuguese were eager to convert the Kongolese’s religion to Christianity, which they successfully did at the early fifteenth century. The Portuguese sent mercenaries, women, gunpowder and weapons, troops, and priests to Kongo. The king of Kongo changed his religion into Christianity and acquired the throne under the name Afonso I. The kingdom of Kongo entered into trading relations with the Portuguese. They traded pepper, gold, and mostly slaves in exchange for