Annotated Map of Influence - Trent

Influence of Portugal on Kongo

Influence of Portugal on Kongo

The blue line represents the influence of Portugal on Kongo. Blue represents trust and loyalty, and Kongo definitely showed that toward Portugal. The impact of Portugal onto Kongo was mostly dependent on the recourses that were provided in the trades made. Portugal offered technological and military assistance to Kongo as well as Portugal's support in setting up an administrative system and building religious institutions. Afonso I, the king of Kongo at the time, was a great negotiator and did many things to maintain a good relationship with Portugal, including practicing Christianity and inviting other European norms into the country. He even sent one of his own sons, Henrique Kinu a Mvemba, to be trained as a priest.

Cooperation between Portugal and Kongo

Cooperation between Portugal and Kongo

The white line represents the cooperation between Portugal and Kongo. White is a sign of peace, and that's what this initial relationship was. Portugal first interacted with Kongo while on an exploration mission and reached the Kongo Kingdom where he was welcomed by King Nzinga Nkuwu. The two separate societies had a pretty instant and healthy relationship, providing recourses for one other, with Kongo providing slaves and ivory and Portugal providing military and religious services. The kings of these societies also for a while would refer to one another as "brother". Even as Portugal began to demand for more slaves, the Kongo would willingly provide with no hesitation. The relationship was smooth for a while, until demand became more than supply.

Influence of Kongo on Portugal

Influence of Kongo on Portugal

The pink line represents the influence of Kongo on Portugal. The thickness of this line is different than the others because the influence from Kongo is not nearly as important as the influence from Portugal in my opinion. On Portugal's end of these trades, Portugal's main objective was to receive as many slaves as possible. Slaves were a very valuable recourse for Portugal at the time, and so they offered anything to get as many as they could. They also received ivory in the trade, which was a rare material for the Portuguese. Afonso I did not know of the treatment of slaves by the Portuguese, so the Portuguese took advantage of this by obtaining as much as could be provided before anything was discovered.

Conflict between Portugal and Kongo

Conflict between Portugal and Kongo

The red line represents the conflict between Portugal and Kongo. This line is the boldest because it is the most significant, and the red colour can represent blood and violence. The initial relationship was great, but when the Kongo refused to send the amount of slaves that Portugal demanded, they began doing awful things. The Portuguese traders began enslaving Kongolese people themselves, upon which Afonso I began sending letters to Portugal asking them to stop. This conflict continues past Afonso I's death, and in the 1550's the Portuguese created a trade deal, after which the King of Kongo responded by expelling many Portuguese people. The Portuguese then assassinated the King in the 1560s.