5.9 Early Contacts with the Outside World

East African Coast's Interaction with Outsiders • Wide-spread interaction with Arabs, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Chinesee, Indians, Spain, and Portuguese. • Europe's perception of Africa was a contrast to Europe's, highlighting Europe's superiority. • Global events brought Africa closer to the rest of the world since the mid-fifteenth century. • Europeans, particularly Portugal and Spain, sought to dominate international trade. • Exploration and contact with European powers significantly influenced African economy, culture, language, politics, and environment. • The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was the outcome of Afro-European contact during the exploration era. 5.9 Early Contacts with the Outside World East African Coast's Global Interaction • Wide-spread interaction with Arabs, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Chinesee, Indians, Spain, Portuguese. • Early contacts mainly with outsiders. Europe's Perception of Africa • Europe created a perverse image of Africa. • This image reflected Europe's general superiority. • Europe's self-perception was based on its image of Africa. Exploration and European Influence on Africa • Global events in the mid-fifteenth century brought Africa closer to the world. • Europeans, particularly Portugal and Spain, sought to dominate international trade. • European sponsorship of navigators facilitated this. • Exploration and European contact significantly influenced African economy, culture, language, politics, and environment. • Afro-European contact led to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.