ISBN:
9780511563041
Language:
English
Pages:
1 Online-Ressource (xv, 230 pages)
,
digital, PDF file(s)
Series Statement:
African studies 49
Parallel Title:
Print version
DDC:
380.1/44/096
Keywords:
Slave trade
;
Shell money
;
Slave trade History
;
Cowries
;
Shell money
;
Cowries
;
Slave trade ; History
;
Slave trade ; Africa
Abstract:
This study examines the role of cowrie-shell money in West African trade, particularly the slave trade. The shells were carried from the Maldives to the Mediterranean by Arab traders for further transport across the Sahara, and to Europe by competing Portuguese, Dutch, English and French traders for onward transport to the West African coast. In Africa they served to purchase the slaves exported to the New World, as well as other less sinister exports. Over a large part of West Africa they became the regular market currency, but were severely devalued by the importation of thousands of tons of the cheaper Zanzibar cowries. Colonial governments disliked cowries because of the inflation and encouraged their replacement by low-value coins. They disappeared almost totally, to re-appear during the depression of the 1930s, and have been found occasionally in the markets of remote frontier districts, avoiding exchange and currency control problems
Note:
Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015)
DOI:
10.1017/CBO9780511563041
URL:
Volltext
(lizenzpflichtig)
URL:
Volltext
(lizenzpflichtig)
URL:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511563041
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