Atlantic Connections explores the transformative impact of the Atlantic Ocean on African societies between the 15th and 19th centuries. It argues that Africa's Atlantic coast played a crucial role in shaping global trade networks, challenging the notion of Africa as merely a passive recipient of global forces. The book highlights how African societies actively engaged with European traders, adapting and innovating in response to new economic opportunities. For example, some African societies strategically controlled trade routes and negotiated terms with European powers, demonstrating their agency.
The book examines the development of Atlantic ports as hubs of commerce, the complex exchange of goods (including the devastating transatlantic slave trade), and the resulting cultural exchanges. It explores how these interactions influenced social structures, belief systems, and artistic expressions on both sides of the Atlantic. The study emphasizes that the Atlantic trade spurred unexpected cultural exchanges, with African artistic styles and religious beliefs influencing the Americas.
This exploration is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding, starting with pre-existing trade networks, analyzing the growth of key ports, exploring commodity flows, and concluding with the cultural and social transformations that occurred. By utilizing diverse historical sources, including trade records and oral histories, Atlantic Connections provides a nuanced understanding of the economic and social impacts of the Atlantic trade.
This book aims to move beyond simplistic narratives of victimhood or exploitation to offer a more complex and historically grounded perspective. Ultimately, the book sheds light on the historical roots of globalization and its enduring impact on Africa, offering valuable insights into contemporary global economic inequalities.
