Question 1

What were "slave factories" such as the one at Elmina?

Accepted Answer

Slave factories, such as the one at Elmina, were trading posts in Africa where slaves were bought, held, and sold before being transported across the Atlantic.

Question 2

What was a caboceer?

Accepted Answer

A caboceer was an African agent who played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade by acquiring slaves for European traders at prearranged prices. These individuals were often local leaders or intermediaries who facilitated the trade between African societies and European merchants.

Question 3

All of the following statements about Juan Garrido are true EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Juan Garrido was a notable African who gained his freedom and achieved various accomplishments, including participating in the conquests of Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Mexico. He did not remain a slave his entire life, which makes option C the incorrect statement.

Question 4

In 1750,what was the typical price of a healthy young male slave purchased on the Gold Coast?

Accepted Answer

In 1750, the typical price of a healthy young male slave purchased on the Gold Coast was around £20 sterling. This reflects the monetary value placed on human lives during the transatlantic slave trade era.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about African slavery in European countries during the sixteenth century is MOST accurate?

Accepted Answer

During the sixteenth century, the presence of landless white laborers in Europe meant that African slavery did not become a significant part of the labor force on the continent.

Question 6

What was the primary means by which European slave traders obtained African slaves?

Accepted Answer

European slave traders primarily obtained slaves through bartering with African slave traders, who were part of established trading networks within Africa.

Question 7

The primary reason that European planters in the Americas came to rely on the labor of African slaves was that

Accepted Answer

The primary reason was that the importation of Old World diseases, along with the harsh labor demands, significantly reduced the native populations, making the importation of African slaves a necessity for the European planters.

Question 8

English colonists in places such as Virginia adopted African slavery for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The primary reasons for the adoption of African slavery by English colonists included the ease of identifying escaped slaves, the longer duration of service provided by slaves compared to white servants, and the instability of the system of white servitude due to its temporary nature. The decision was not primarily motivated by a distaste for placing white people in servitude, as white servitude continued alongside slavery for some time.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about slave ships is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

C) is the least accurate because while the numbers of deaths on slave ships were indeed high, the primary reasons were the brutal conditions aboard such as overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, rather than a deliberate choice not to purchase provisions or medicines. While cost-saving measures did occur, the statement oversimplifies the complex factors contributing to the high mortality rates.

Question 10

Which African explorer was known by Native Americans as "the Son of the Sun"?

Accepted Answer

Estevan, also known as Estevanico, was an African explorer who was known by Native Americans as "the Son of the Sun." He was a Moroccan enslaved person who became one of the first Africans to arrive in what is now the southwestern United States, gaining fame for his exploration work and his interaction with indigenous peoples.

Question 11

As one of only four survivors of Pánfilo de Narvaez's ill-fated expedition to Florida,the African explorer Estevan proved especially helpful because of his

Accepted Answer

Estevan, also known as Estebanico, was known for his linguistic skills, which proved invaluable in communicating with the indigenous peoples encountered during the expedition.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about Africans' involvement in the exploration of the New World is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

Early English explorers did not heavily rely on African guides and laborers in the initial stages of exploration. The significant involvement of Africans, especially as guides and laborers, was more characteristic of later colonial enterprises and other European powers, such as the Spanish and Portuguese, in the Americas.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about African resistance to enslavement is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

The institution of slavery had a longstanding history in Africa, but enslaved Africans often attempted to escape at various points during the enslavement process, not just once they were placed in the hands of European traders.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about Europeans' use of slave labor in the Americas is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

European settlers initially attempted to enslave Native Americans and used indentured European servants before turning to African slaves as a primary labor source. The transition to African slavery was gradual and influenced by various factors, not an initial intention.

Question 15

Whose narrative is the best known autobiographical account of an eighteenth-century enslaved African?

Accepted Answer

Olaudah Equiano's narrative, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," is the most famous autobiographical account of an eighteenth-century enslaved African. It played a crucial role in the abolitionist movement in Britain.

Question 16

In 1517,the Spanish friar Bartolomé de Las Casas,disturbed by the suffering which Spanish conquistadores had wrought on the native populations of America,became an important advocate of

Accepted Answer

Bartolomé de Las Casas initially advocated for the importation of African slaves to the Americas as a means to alleviate the suffering of the indigenous populations, although he later regretted and opposed all forms of slavery.

Question 17

What percentage of the persons who migrated to the Americas between 1700 and 1780 were slaves?

Accepted Answer

Between 1700 and 1780, the majority of people who migrated to the Americas were slaves, with estimates suggesting that about 75% of these migrants were indeed enslaved individuals. This reflects the brutal reality of the transatlantic slave trade during this period.

Question 18

In Africa,European traders commonly acquired African slaves in return for all of the following items EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

European traders commonly exchanged items such as brass utensils, cotton textiles, and pewter for African slaves, but gold was typically a sought-after item that Europeans aimed to acquire from Africa, not something they commonly traded away.

Question 19

During the first half of the seventeenth century,England attempted to address the labor needs of its North American colonies primarily through

Accepted Answer

During the first half of the seventeenth century, England primarily addressed the labor needs of its North American colonies through the use of indentured white servants. These individuals agreed to work for a certain number of years in exchange for passage to America, food, accommodation, and eventually freedom dues. This system was prevalent before the widespread adoption of African slavery towards the end of the 17th century.

Question 20

What European nation played a direct role in instigating a series of decades-long wars in West Central Africa in the sixteenth century?

Accepted Answer

Portugal played a direct role in instigating a series of decades-long wars in West Central Africa in the sixteenth century, primarily due to their involvement in the slave trade and their efforts to establish trade routes and colonies.

Quiz 2: Africans in the Atlantic World