Afonso

<! parameters> (Set: $Year to 1) (Set: $LawYear to 0) (Set: $ExitCode to 0) (set: $Happy to 4) (Set: $LastYear to 37) (Set: $Respect to 4) (Set: $Pression to 1) (Set: $WarYear to 0) (Set: $People to 10000) (Set: $Slaves to 3000) (Set: $Storage to 500) (Set: $Dead to 0) (set: $Treasure to 500) (Set: $SlavesSold to 0) (Set: $PeopleRaided to 0) (Set: $PeopleProd to 0.5) (Set: $SlaveProd to 3.0) (Set: $PeopleUsage to 1) (Set: $SlaveUsage to 0.75) (Set: $GrowthPerc to 5) (Set: $MaxFestivals to 5) (Set: $NrFestivals to 0) (Set: $TradeOn to false) (Set: $WarOn to false) (Set: $Guns to false) (Set: $RaidsOnYou to false) (Set: $LawOn to false) (set: $Alliance to false) (set: $GiftsOn to false) (Set: $Letter to false) (set: $Event to "") {(Set: $PeopleHappy to (a: "The people hate you", "The people are dissatisfied with you", "The people are neutral about you", "Your people like you", "Your people are very happy with you" )) } {(Set: $ChiefsRespect to (a: "The local chiefs spit upon you", "The local chiefs disrespect you", "The local chiefs are neutral about you", "The local chiefs respect you", "The local chiefs respect you very much" )) } (set: $Header to (text-style: "bold")+(Colour: yellow)) (go-to: "INTRODUCTION") [[Start |INTRODUCTION]]

$Header[Welcome] In the history of Africa one of the topics was the slavery and the slave trade in West and Central Africa in the sixteenth century. There was a discourse under historians why the slave trade could develop in this region. It appeared that there was a complex situation where several processes influenced the rise of the slave trade. Kings of local states had to make difficult decisions. This inspired me to develop a game on this subject. I had my doubt if slavery and slave trade were a good subject for a game but my aim is not to entertain but to show what a complex set of factors were influencing this development. The events in the game are not accurate history. I mixed events from several states. But I hope that the development shows an authentic process although this is only a simple model of the reality. The game is named after the first christian king of Congo, how adepted the name of Afonso.(click: "Afonso")[ (open-url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afonso_I_of_Kongo")] [[Continue the game. |REPORT]] Don't you want to play this game? [[Leave the game|END]](set: $ExitCode to 2)

Year: $Year <hr> (if: $ExitCode is 1)[The people started a revolt, to many people died, and you are thrown out of of office.] (if: $ExitCode is 2)[To bad, perhaps another time?] (if: $ExitCode is 3)[The chiefs have attacked your capital, your army cannot or don't want to stop them. They throw you out of office.] (if: $ExitCode is 4)[After ruling for $Year years, you died in bed. Civil war breaks out in the country over your succession. This gives the Europeans the opportunity to exert more influence.] (if: $ExitCode is 4)[Your neighbourgs captured your capital city. With the help of a European cannon they blowed your gate and occupied the city. You have bravely tried to stop them, but in vain. People will remember you as a brave but unable king"] This is the end of the game. [[Goto the epilog|EPILOG]]

(set: $ExitCode to 0) (If: $Year is 1)[You are the king of an West-African state in the sixteenth century.] $Header[Report:] Year $Year { There live $People people in your land. There are $Slaves slaves. (If: $Dead > 0) [$Dead people and slaves died of starvation. ] (if: $WarOn) [You are at war with your neighbours. ] (If: $WarDead > 0 and $WarOn) [$WarDead people died of war ] (print: $PeopleHappy's ($Happy)) (print: $ChiefsRespect's ($Respect)) } <hr> What will be your next decision? [[Do nothing |CALCULATIONS]] [[Ask advice |ADVISORS]]

$Header[Military advisor:] { (if: $Year is 1) [We are a mighty country. Are neighbours have fear for us. ] [Let's organize a raid in the neighboring countries to get more slaves. [[Organize raid|RAID]] ] (if: $RaidsOnYou AND not $WarOn)[We must declare war to our neighbours. [[Declare war|WAR]] ] (if: $WarOn) [Can we have an alliance with the Europeans to help us with their ships and cannons. [[Call Europeans|ALLIANCE]] ] (if: $Year > 2)[We have to buy modern weapons from the Europeans. [[Buy weapons|GUNS]] ] } $Header[Economy advisor:] { (if: $Year is 1)[Our land is prosperous and wealthy. ] (if: $Dead > 0) [We need more slaves to enlarge our harvests. ] (If: $LawOn) [Withdraw the law that forbids slavery and slave trade. [[Change law|LAW]] ] (if: $TradeOn) [Trade will increase our prosperity. [[Start trading|TRADE]] ] } $Header[Social advisor:] { (if: $Year is 1)[(print: $PeopleHappy's ($Happy) ) ] (If: not $LawOn)[Forbid by law the slavery and slave trade. [[Make law|LAW]] ] (if: $Happy <=2 and $NrFestivals <= $MaxFestivals) [Let's organize a religious festival to increase the happyness of the people. [[Organize festival|FESTIVAL]] ] (If: $WarOn) [Let's make peace with our neighbours [[Make peace|WAR]] ] } <hr> [[Do nothing|CALCULATIONS]]

(Set: $MaxRaid to (Round: $PeopleUsage*(Max: 100,$PeopleGrowth)*(1 - $PeopleProd)/$SlaveProd)) (if: $Guns)[(Set: $Raid to (random: 0,$MaxRaid))] (else:)[(Set: $Raid to (Round: 0.75*$MaxRaid))] Your general reports that they organized a (if: $Raid > 30)[succesfull] raid and caught $Raid new slaves ! (Set: $Event to (str: $Raid) + " new slaves have come to your country") [[Continue |CALCULATIONS]]

(Set: $Slaves to $Slaves - $SlavesSold + $Raid) (Set: $WarDead to 0) (if: $WarOn)[(Set: $WarDead to (Round: $People*(Random: 1,4)/100)) (set: $WarYear to $WarYear + 1)] (Set: $People to $People - $WarDead) (Set: $Production to $PeopleProd * $People + $SlaveProd * $Slaves) (Set: $Usage to $PeopleUsage * $People + $SlaveUsage * $Slaves) (! Te weinig voedsel) (set: $PeopleGrowth to 0) {(If: $Usage > $Production + $Storage)[ (set: $Dead to (Round: $Usage - $Production - $Storage)) ](Else:)[ (Set: $Dead to 0)(Set: $PeopleGrowth to (Round: ($GrowthPerc/100) * $People)) ]} (If: $Dead > 0)[(set: $Happy to (Max:1, $Happy - 1))] (set: $People to (Max: 0, $People - (round: 0.7 * $Dead)) + $PeopleGrowth ) (set: $Slaves to (Max: 0, $Slaves - (round: 0.3 * $Dead)) ) (set: $Storage to (max: 0, $Production + $Storage - $Usage)) (Set: $Raid to 0) (if: $SlaveSold is 0)[(Set: $Pression to (min: 10,$Pression + 1))] (Set: $SlavesSold to 0) <! Next turn> (Set: $Year = $Year + 1) (go-to: "EFFECTS") [[Continue|EFFECTS]] <! only for the link in the overview>

(set: $Revolt to $Dead > .15 * $People AND ($Happy is 1)) (if: $Revolt )[(Set: $ExitCode to 1)] (if: $Revolt )[(Goto: "END")] $Header[Events:]{ (If: $Year is 2) [At the coast have come big sailing ships with men from Europe. They want to trade for gold and ivory. (set: $TradeOn to true)] (if: $Event is not "")[[$Event](Set: $Event to "") ] (if: $WarOn and $Alliance)[(Set: $Temp to 100*(Random: 3,6))The Europeans helped you te defeat your enemies. You have $Temp captives. one half go to the Europeans as slaves. The other half stay in your country. (set: $Slaves to $Slaves + $temp/2)(set: $WarOn to false)(Set: $RaidsOnYou to false)(set: $Happy to (Min: 5, $Happy + 1))(Set: $Pression to (Max: 1,$Pression - 3))] (if: $GiftsOn)[You earned respect from your local chiefs (set: $GiftsOn to false)(set: $Happy to (min: 5,$Happy + 1))] (if: $Pression > 8 )[Europeans bought slaves in the neighbouring countries and paided with guns. (set: $RaidsOnYou to true)] (if: ($Year is $LawYear + 3) and ($LawYear > 0) and $LawOn and $TradeOn)[You get a message from your ambassador in Brazil that the government of Brazil urge you to resume the slave trade because they need the slaves in their sugar plantations. ] (Set: $PeopleRaided to 0) (if: $RaidsOnYou)[(Set: $PeopleRaided to (Round: $People*(random: 1,4)/100))] (if: $RaidsOnYou) [Your neighbours raid your people and took $PeopleRaided them as slaves. (set: $People to $People - $PeopleRaided )(set: $Respect to (Max: 1, $Respect - 1))(set: $Happy to (max: 1,$Happy -1))] (set: $Condition to ($Year is $LawYear + 4) and ($LawYear > 0) and $LawOn) (if: $Condition)[Europeans bought slaves from the chiefs in the regions and paided with guns. The chiefs have now little respect for you (set: $RaidsOnYou to true)(set: $Respect to (max: 1,$Respect - 2))(Set: $Happy to (max: 1,$Happy -1))] (if: $Condition and not $Letter)[You wrote letters to the pope and the European kings to complain about the European traders. (Set: $Letter to true)] (Print: (Cond: $Pression > 4 and $Pression <=6, "The Europeans want to buy slaves", $Pression is 7 or $Pression is 8, "The Europeans demand more slaves", $Pression >= 9, "The Europeans are angry because they cannot buy enough slaves","")) (set: $Condition to ($Year is $LawYear + 6) and ($LawYear > 0) and $LawOn) (if: $WarOn and not $Alliance and $WarYear >= 4 and $Pression >= 7) [(set: $ExitCode to 5)(goto: "END")] (if: $Condition and $LawOn)[(set: $ExitCode to 3)(goto: "END")] (if: $Year is $LastYear)[(set: $ExitCode to 4)(goto: "END")] } <hr> [[(Either: "Start a council with your advisers.", "Held court in your palace.", "Call your advisors to the palace." )|REPORT]]

You organize a great festival. The people enjoyed it. (set: $Happy to (min: 5, $Happy + 1)) (Set: $Event to "Your festival was succes, you gained support from your people") (Set: $NrFestivals to $NrFestivals + 1) [[Continue |CALCULATIONS]]

Call the European traders to your palace. Tell them they can only trade with the palace. They want gold and offer clothes, metals, wine and cowry shells. Also they can organize transport by sea for you. Agree to trade, buy luxury items for gold and ivory. Give those items to your local chiefs. (link: "Agree")[(set: $GiftsOn to true)(Set: $Respect to (Min: 5,$Respect + 1))(set: $GrowthPerc to $GrowthPerc + 0.5)(Goto: "CALCULATIONS")] (if: $Year >= 3)[And they want to buy slaves.] (if: $Year >= 3 and $LawOn)[Yoy tell them that by law you won't trade slaves.(Set: $SlavesSold to 0)] (if: $Year >= 3 and not $LawOn)[(Set: $Temp to (Round: $Slaves*(Random: 2,5)/100))Tell them you agree, you will sell $Temp slaves.(click:"agree")[(Set: $Pression to (Max: 1,$Pression - 2))(set: $SlavesSold to $Temp)(set: $Event to (str: $Temp) + " slaves sold."))(goto: "CALCULATIONS")]] [[Do nothing|CALCULATIONS]]

(if: not $WarOn)[You declare war on your neighbours! (Set: $WarOn to true) (Set: $Happy to (Max: 1,$Happy - 1)) (Set: $Event to "Your at war know, the people are not happy about this")] (else:)[You negotiated peace with your neighbours! (Set: $WarOn to false) (Set: $Happy to (Min: 5,$Happy + 1)) (Set: $Event to "The war has ended, the people are happy about this")] [[Continue|CALCULATIONS]]

Call the Europeans to the palace. Propose an alliance. (If: $LawOn or $Pression is 10)[They refuse] (Else:) [They agree on the condition that they will have more slaves.(set: $Alliance to true)(Set: $Event to "The Europeans support you with their ships and cannons")(set: $Respect to (Min: 5,$Respect +1))] [[Continue |CALCULATIONS]]

Ask the europeans if they want to trade modern weapons like sables, muskets and gunpowder. They answer that they want to trade that but only with slaves as payment. (set: $Guns to false) (Set: $SlavesSold to 0) (if: $LawOn)[Tell them that slave trade is now forbidden by law!] [[You won't trade slaves.|CALCULATIONS]] (if: not $LawOn)[(Set: $Temp to (Round: $Slaves*(Random: 2,5)/100))] (if: not $LawOn)[Tell them you agree, you will sell $Temp slaves(click: "agree")[(set: $Guns to true)(set: $SlavesSold to $Temp)(set: $Event to "Slaves sold for weapons")(Set: $Respect to (Min: 5,$Respect + 1)(Set: $Pression to (Max: 1, $Pression - 2)(goto: "CALCULATIONS")]] <hr> [[Do nothing|CALCULATIONS]]

(if: $LawOn) [(Set: $LawOn to false)(set: $LawYear to 0) You order that slave trading is legal again.] (Else:) [(Set: $LawOn to true)(Set: $LawYear to $Year)(Set: $Event to "New law forbids slave trade")(Set:$Alliance to false)You declare a law that slave trading is forbidden from now on. This trade does not conform to christian values! ] (if: $LawOn)[(Set: $Happy to (Min: 5, $Happy + 1))(Set:$Respect to (Max: 1,$Respect - 1))(set: $LawYear to $Year)] [[Continue |CALCULATIONS]]

$Header[The situation in West Africa was complex] There were slaves in the kingdoms, captives of war, people in debt or criminals and they worked on the land or delved gold in the mines. The economy depended on them but there was a balance. When the European came this balance was distorted. Their demand for slaves was greater then the supply. To get what they wanted they also distorted the balance of power in the region. The king could only effectively reign in this large country with the support of his vazals, the local chiefs. There existed a kind of client system that bond the chiefs to their king. That's why the king wanted the trade go through the palace. The Europeans distorted this by trading directly with the chiefs what undermined the autority of the king. They also distorted the balance of power by selling guns and other weapons. As a result the balance between the different kingdoms shifted and the Europeans tried to manipulate the political situation. But the African kings also tried to manipulate the different European countries in their advantage. A vicious circle emerged, a path dependence from which the kingdoms could no longer emerge and this eventually resulted in chaos where local warlords took over. I hope this game has given you an impression of this situation. The reality was of course far more complex than this simple game can demonstrate.