Early European Contact with Africa – JSS3 Nigerian History Lesson Note (First Term)

Early European contact with Africa was the arrival of European traders and explorers on the West African coast from the late 15th century, mainly to find trade routes to Asia and to gain wealth.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. describe why Europeans came to West Africa;
2. state four reasons for European activities in West Africa;
3. list the articles of trade between Nigerian peoples and Europeans;
4. describe the impact of European contact on the coastal peoples of Nigeria.

Who were the early Europeans on the West African coast?

The early Europeans on the West African coast were the Portuguese, followed by the Spanish, Dutch, French, British and Danes.

• Portuguese: the first Europeans to reach the Nigerian coast, in the late 15th century. They visited Benin and the Niger Delta.
• Dutch, French, British and Danes: came later and competed with the Portuguese for trade.
• Trading posts: Europeans mostly stayed on ships or at coastal stations. They traded with local rulers and merchants.
• African middlemen: coastal peoples such as the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Efik controlled trade between the coast and the interior.
• Coastal trading centres: Lagos, Badagry, Warri, Bonny and Calabar became busy ports.

What led Europeans to West Africa?

Europeans came to West Africa mainly to find new sea routes to Asia and to gain wealth and power.

• Search for new routes: the Ottoman Empire controlled the old overland routes to Asia, so Europeans looked for routes by sea.
• Wealth: European nations wanted valuable goods and land to grow richer.
• Better ships and navigation: improved ships, the compass and maps made long sea voyages possible.
• Support from rulers: kings such as those of Portugal paid for voyages along the African coast.

What were the reasons for European activities in West Africa?

There were four main reasons for European activities in West Africa: trade, expansion, religion and the use of improved technology.

1. Trade and commerce: Europeans wanted gold, ivory, pepper and, later, slaves and palm oil.
2. Expansion and colonisation: European powers competed for territory, resources and military bases. Colonial rule came much later, in the 19th century.
3. Spread of Christianity: missionaries saw Africa as a place to teach Christianity. This led to missions, churches and schools.
4. Improved technology: European ships, guns and navigation tools allowed them to travel far and trade on their own terms.

What were the articles of trade in early commercial relations?

The articles of trade were the goods exchanged between Nigerian peoples and Europeans.

Goods from Africa

• Gold: West Africa had gold, which European traders sought eagerly.
• Ivory: elephant tusks were a valuable export.
• Pepper: a spice from West Africa that Europeans bought.
• Slaves: the transatlantic slave trade became the main trade for about three centuries. Millions of Africans were taken to the Americas.
• Palm oil: it became the leading export in the 19th century, after the slave trade was ended.

Goods from Europe

• Guns and gunpowder: traded to coastal rulers and merchants.
• Cloth: textiles of many kinds.
• Drinks and tobacco: spirits and tobacco were common trade goods.
• Beads, mirrors and metal goods: iron bars, brass items and ornaments.

How did the slave trade end?

The transatlantic slave trade was ended by law, led by Britain, in the early 19th century.

1. Britain passed a law in 1807 to stop its people from taking part in the slave trade.
2. The British navy patrolled the coast to stop slave ships.
3. Europeans encouraged trade in palm oil and other farm produce instead.
4. This new trade is called legitimate trade.

How did European contact affect the coastal peoples of Nigeria?

European contact changed the economy, society, culture, politics and health of the coastal peoples.

1. Economic effects: new goods and markets disrupted traditional trade. Some local traders and craftworkers lost business. Some coastal rulers and merchants grew rich.
2. Social effects: the slave trade took away many lives and broke up families and communities.
3. Cultural effects: coastal peoples adopted some European ways, such as dress, language, religion and education. Europeans also learned from African cultures.
4. Political effects: demand for slaves increased raids and wars between communities. Guns changed the balance of power. Later contact led to colonial rule.
5. Health effects: contact brought new diseases that harmed local populations.

Other changes that followed

• Western education: missionaries opened schools along the coast.
• New crops: crops from the Americas, such as maize and cassava, spread to Nigeria.
• Growth of ports: trade made coastal towns bigger and richer.

Evaluation

Students answer these questions as classwork.

1. Describe the European exploration of West Africa.
2. State four reasons for European activities in West Africa.
3. List four articles of trade.
4. Describe the impact of European contact on the coastal peoples of Nigeria. Mention three effects.
5. Name the first Europeans to reach the Nigerian coast.

Assignment

Explain how the slave trade affected the coastal peoples of Nigeria.