Introduction

Around 1500 the first Europeans i.e., Portuguese, Dutchmen, French and British arrived on the African coasts with the intention to settle there. Their arrival was facilitated by the improvement of navigation conditions. They quickly initiated exchanges of all kinds with Africans. They were especially in search of slaves who were taken to work in America and in the Caribbean countries.

What is in this block?

There are two sections in this block:

Section 1: Europeans on the African coasts 

Section 2: Transatlantic black trade 

Estimated study time

We think that you will need 7 or 8 hours to achieve all the activities proposed to you in this block.

Learning objectives

By the end of this block, you will be able to:

• explain how Europeans settled on the African coasts;
• explain the main African exports and imports;                          
• find out the outstanding facts of the magnitude of the transatlantic black trade and its consequences.

How will I assess my learning in this block?

There are two activities in this block. They are designed to help you to evaluate your progress in the study of the block contents. After having studied each section, do activities proposed to you. Compare then your answers to the ones suggested at the end of the block. If you encountered difficulties in finding answers, please review the section.

If difficulties persist, ask for assistance from a colleague or your tutor.