Did You Know?

Introduction

Hi lovers of history, it's your friend again coming to you with historical events and facts. I welcome you to a fresh edition of your favourite content on Steem4Nigeria, Did You Know?

Last week, we had to deviate to the current happening which was the military intervention, better called "state of emergency", which was declared in Rivers State, Nigeria. It was necessary to deviate so that we could link our present to the past, which is one of the essences of history.

Before then, we were looking at the beginning of slavery and the European countries that started slavery in Africa. In that edition, we established that Portugal began slavery in Africa, after a sponsored exploration by Prince Henry the Navigator.

This week friends, I'm excited to continue from where we stopped. Now, let's focus on Nigeria. Now, did you know the following:

1. The first European country in Nigeria was the Portuguese.

2. They first visited the Benin kingdom in the 15th century.

3. The Portuguese or Europeans didn't bring the culture of slavery to Nigeria. Some societies harboured war slaves who were captured during wars of expansion. History for another day.

4. The Europeans met the culture and then took advantage of the situation and then suggested buying them to the new world to work on their plantations. Don't forget there was Trans-Saharan slave trade before the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

5. Did you know that the African slaves were exchanged for European goods such as gins, glassware, mirrors, clothing, ammunition, etc? That's true, the trade was based on a barter system. Don't forget that slaves were items of trade just like every other good.

6. Did you know that the slave trade was a lucrative business for both the Europeans and the African intermediaries? Yes it was. Some African Chiefs became very rich due to the trade and never wanted it to come to an end.

Finally, did you know that the Portuguese were the first in Nigeria while others came later and that the British were the last to arrive in the area, but they later overpowered the other Europeans and took over trade in the area known as Nigeria today?

Have you ever thought that the Europeans brought slavery to Africa? Oh no, the culture of slavery was in practice in the area. The Portuguese and other Europeans took advantage of that to ship them to America and different European countries.

Thank you for reading, I remain your historian friend @eveetim.💕 Feel free to make your contributions in the comment, I'll love to hear from you.

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