The Western World in Africa before 1800 The Mercantilist Period of European Contact

The mercantilist period in European economic history: -<Tab/>The era of merchant capital as opposed to industrial capital -<Tab/>Merchant capital depends for its growth on the connections between different social and productive systems, e.g. profits from trade. -<Tab/>This kind of capital grew and developed in the trade between the vastly different cultural, religious, political and economic systems …

…kingdoms of Oyo, Dahomey, Benin and Asante arose. 4.<Tab/>Powerful Coastal states emerged, as well as a stratum of intermediaries whose fortune and position in society depended negotiations between African and European of: An African coastal bourgeoisie. 5.<Tab/>Slaves were passed on " like a baton in a relay aimed at the coast. 6.<Tab/>Transported in terrible conditions, many died en route to destinations