View of Africans in Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe
During 1400-1600
The image of the Africans in Europe in the Period of 1400-1600 remained constant in Mediterranean Europe, and transformed in Atlantic Europe. The main reason that the image of the Africans differed in these two parts of Europe was because of previous contact and knowledge of the African people. In Atlantic Europe interaction with Africans was more limited and often a distorted depiction of outlandish Africans in the wild was told. In the period of 1400-1600 Atlantic Europeans portrayals of Africans remained a continual reference of exotic unknown peoples that eventually led to the later rejection of African people. Contact between Mediterranean Europeans and Africans had been happening long before 1400 and the Africans in these areas had already obtained roles in society, some prominent but mostly roles such as guardians or trumpeters (1). Europeans in these areas had earlier experience with Africans, having seen them involved in wars or during trade and business expeditions making maintaining relationships with Africans more valuable. Slavery and Racism was still present in Mediterranean Europe during this period but Africans played a role in society.
Atlantic Europe in the years 1400-1600 had the image of the Africans change from an early exploration and mythical view to one of non-acceptance later in the period. Initially because of the lack of contact, the view of Africans was shaped by art, publications and stories. The information that was presented to the English and Atlantic Europeans about Africans was usually unsophisticated and unreliable. (2) These tales of African people including putting down their customs and dress fed the fear of the unknown. This quote from Before Othello shows how the English were interested and wanted to know about Africans but never respected them, “To the English eye, a black African provoked curiosity at the very least and often marvel rarely, if ever, did the sight inspire admiration” (3). Africans were not a large part of the 15th century in Atlantic Europe and all experience of Africans helped shape a negative cogitation of African People.
Because a description of African people through the two hundred year period of 1400-1600 that Atlantic Europeans received, their had been no place created for Africans to participate in society. Creating depictions of alien beings and strange customs led to the eventual decision in 1601 from Queen Elizabeth who issued an order of deportation of all blacks from England. (4) The period ended with the rejection of Africans in England where the few that remained were in slavery and with no opportunity to improve their social situation.
In Mediterranean Europe Africans had been around long before the 1400-1600. Europeans in these areas were more familiar with Africans because of this the view of Africans in Mediterranean Europe remained more of a constant. Africans played a particular role in society and even though slavery and prejudice still existed Africans had some opportunities to advance both early and later in the period. Europeans in these areas had experienced blacks being active in the Islamic wars and in some areas like south Italy towns were named after blacks. (5) The Portuguese had a different relationship but similar in that they where making trade and profit from interaction with Africans. As long as Africans were useful and offered attractive merchandise and trade there was benefit in maintaining contact. (6) The View of Africans in Mediterranean Europe was one of limited inclusion and acceptance but one that found a part for Africans in its society. This view does not mean that Africans are seen as equal but more of them plying a role and needed in slavery, partners in trade or certain roles in society.
Later in this two hundred year period from 1400-1600 Mediterranean Europe was a place where large numbers of Africans lived. In the 1590’s places like Lisbon Portugal proportions of blacks were so high that some claimed this city was blacker then white, black festival was the highlight of social life. (7) The view of Africans in these Areas had finished the sixteenth century with large numbers of Africans in Mediterranean Europe where Africans still were not looked as equals but where accepted in their functions. Africans also begun to organize themselves creating organizations in Lisbon, Barcelona and Seville that allowed them to fight for inclusion and to mobilize and free some slaves. (8) The Mediterranean territories were not ideal places for Africans to live in, but contrast to Atlantic Europe these areas allowed some prosperity during the period.
Through out the period of 1400-1600 Africans played a part in Europe but experienced different scrutiny in different areas of Europe. Africans remained slaves and not equal to whites in all of Europe, but did have different opportunities of life depending on the Area they lived in. In Mediterranean Europe Africans remained a large part of life and culture, in Atlantic Europe there was less inclusion and a worse view of the African peoples.
1. (Pg 32) Black Africans in Hohenstaufen Iconography Author(s): Paul H. D. Kaplan Source: Gesta, Vol. 26, No. 1 (1987), pp. 29-36 Published by: International Center of Medieval Art.
2. (Pg 21 )Before Othello: Elizabethan Representations of Sub-Saharan Africans Author(s): Alden T. Vaughan and Virginia Mason Vaughan Source: The William and Mary Quarterly, Third Series, Vol. 54, No. 1 (Jan., 1997), pp. 19-44 Published by: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture
3. (Pg 27) Before Othello: Elizabethan Representations of Sub-Saharan Africans Author
4. (Pg 584) Rodney, AFRICA IN EUROPE AND THE AMERICAS
5. (Pg 29) ) Black Africans in Hohenstaufen Iconography Author(s): Paul H. D. Kaplan Source: Gesta, Vol. 26, No. 1 (1987), pp. 29-36 Published by: International Center of Medieval Art.
6. (Pg 172) Cross-Cultural Trade and Diplomacy: Portuguese Relations with West Africa, 1441-1521 Author(s): Ivana Elbl Source: Journal of World History, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Fall, 1992), pp. 165-204 Published by: University of Hawai'i Press
7. (Pg 582) Rodney, AFRICA IN EUROPE AND THE AMERICAS
8. (Pg 583) AFRICA IN EUROPE AND THE AMERICAS
