Question

“The castle at Elmina* has justly become famous for its beauty and strength and has no equal on the Gulf of Guinea. The castle’s garrison typically consists of one hundred Europeans and perhaps as many black African soldiers, all of whom are in the Dutch West India Company’s pay.

This castle was brought to its perfect state under the Dutch West India Company after they captured it from the Portuguese in 1637, and they found in it thirty good pieces of brass cannon, large amounts of gunpowder, and a great deal of other ammunition. It was not nearly as strong nor as beautiful when the Portuguese controlled it. Now it looks as if it had been made for a king than for a trading-post in Africa. This proves that the Dutch are the most curious and the most fit to make settlements abroad of all European nations, because they spare neither time, nor money, nor labor in their undertakings.

The Dutch attempted to use their control over the castle to monopolize trade along the West African coast. I was told that the Dutch used to export much gold and roughly eight thousand slaves, most of whom were sent to the Dutch island of Curacao in the Caribbean, from where the Spaniards purchase the slaves. The Dutch also export from West Africa vast quantities of wax, pepper, red wood, cloths, and other goods.”

*Located in the modern African nation of Ghana.

Jean Barbot, French Protestant and agent of the chartered Senegal Company (Compagnie du Sénégal), book describing his travels in West Africa, written circa 1682



Question
In your response, be sure to address all parts of the question. Use complete sentences; an outline or bulleted list alone is not acceptable.


Use the passage to answer all parts of the question that follows.

a) Describe the broader historical situation in Africa at the time that Jean Barbot wrote his book.

b) Explain ONE way in which the passage illustrates the continuing development of the Atlantic in the seventeenth century.

c) Explain ONE way in which Barbot’s background might have influenced his comments about the Dutch and the Portuguese in the second paragraph.

Answer 1

a) In the 17th century, European powers vied for control in Africa, with the passage revealing Dutch-Portuguese competition, emphasizing colonization, the slave trade, and strategic trading posts. b) The passage underscores Atlantic development by detailing the Dutch capture of Elmina Castle, highlighting the crucial role of fortified trading posts. c) Barbot's French Protestant and Senegal Company affiliation may shape his positive view of Dutch efforts, reflecting potential biases from his Protestant identity and company interests.

a) In the seventeenth century, when Jean Barbot wrote his book, European powers, including the Dutch and Portuguese, were actively engaged in the Atlantic slave trade and the exploitation of African resources.

The passage reflects the European competition for control over trading posts and forts along the West African coast. The Dutch, in particular, sought to dominate trade routes, exporting gold, slaves, and various goods from West Africa.

The historical context includes the impact of European colonization, the Atlantic slave trade, and the establishment of trading posts, shaping the dynamics of power and economic interests in the region.

b) The passage illustrates the continuing development of the Atlantic in the seventeenth century by highlighting the strategic importance of trading posts and forts.

The Dutch West India Company's capture of Elmina Castle from the Portuguese in 1637 demonstrates the ongoing competition among European powers for control over key coastal positions.

The establishment and enhancement of such strongholds were crucial for securing trade routes, facilitating commerce, and maintaining dominance in the Atlantic trade networks during this period.

c) Barbot's background as a French Protestant and agent of the chartered Senegal Company might have influenced his comments about the Dutch and Portuguese in the second paragraph.

Given his affiliation with the Senegal Company, which likely had its own economic and political interests, Barbot might have been inclined to emphasize the Dutch's capabilities in developing and fortifying trading posts.

Additionally, his Protestant background might have influenced his perspective, potentially shaping his views on the competition between European nations and their endeavors abroad.