It's an unfortunate fact that a major part of African history concerns the slave trade era, when African slaves were taken from their homes to be slaves in other parts of the world.
The transatlantic slave trade period began when it became clear that Europe's burgeoning New World colonies would require a large workforce. The European colonists soon discovered that large numbers of African slaves would be perfect. Familiar with agricultural principals as well as cattle management, the Africans brought over were also accustomed to working in tropical climates. From the 15th century on, African people were captured and brought to the Americas to work in the mines or on the large farms and plantations that were being established there.
But the idea of using African slaves was not new, even back then. African slavery had existed for centuries, and it wasn't just the idea of European colonists. In fact, from between about -1450 and the end of the -1800s, slave traders enjoyed the full cooperation of African rulers and merchants. They were willing participants in the selling of African slaves.
The transatlantic slave trade was unique in that it was specifically engaged in as a part of what was called the "Triangular Trade." This profitable practice involved several stages. The first stage involved manufactured goods such as guns, beads, tobacco and cloth being taken from Europe to Africa. Guns were included because they helped the Europeans expand their empires, but they also helped them capture more slaves. This practice later backfired, when the guns were turned against the Europeans. But nevertheless, the goods that were brought to Africa were traded for African slaves.
The slaves were then shipped to the Western Hemisphere as the second stage of the Triangular Trade. The third and final stage of the practice was the return to Europe of precious metals and other products produced by slave labor, including gold, silver, molasses, cotton, tobacco and sugar. When the transatlantic slave trade began, African slaves were taken from Senegambia and the Windward Coast, but by the 1650s slaves were captured from West Central Africa in Angola and the Congo.
From fourteen forty to about sixteen forty, Portugal was actually the only country to export African slaves. Interestingly, they were also the last country in Europe to abolish the institution of slavery, although it continued to utilize slaves as contract laborers even after that practice was defunct. Britain was the worst transgressor during the height of the slave trade and during this difficult time in African history, though, with 2.5 million of the roughly 6 million slaves transported during that time directly Britain's responsibility.
African slaves were under terrible conditions during forced marches along the coast and during the beginning of the transport; it's estimated that fully -13% of them died before ever reaching their destinations. Most African slaves were shipped to the Caribbean, the Spanish Empire, and Brazil, with less than 5% traveling to North America.
Slavery had terrible effects that continue to be felt today. Descendants of African slaves can be found throughout the world, but not necessarily by their own choice. They are found wherever their ancestors were forcibly taken. Maulana Karenga, an African-American author and activist, perfectly described the slave trade and its horrible, long-lasting effects. He called the slave trade "the morally monstrous destruction of human possibility [which] involved redefining African humanity to the world, poisoning past, present and future relations with others who only know us through this stereotyping and thus damaging the truly human relationships among people of today." According to Karenga, African slavery didn't just destroy its African victims - it destroyed their language, their culture and their religion. In short, it destroyed the very essence of human possibility.
The transatlantic slave trade period began when it became clear that Europe's burgeoning New World colonies would require a large workforce. The European colonists soon discovered that large numbers of African slaves would be perfect. Familiar with agricultural principals as well as cattle management, the Africans brought over were also accustomed to working in tropical climates. From the 15th century on, African people were captured and brought to the Americas to work in the mines or on the large farms and plantations that were being established there.
But the idea of using African slaves was not new, even back then. African slavery had existed for centuries, and it wasn't just the idea of European colonists. In fact, from between about -1450 and the end of the -1800s, slave traders enjoyed the full cooperation of African rulers and merchants. They were willing participants in the selling of African slaves.
The transatlantic slave trade was unique in that it was specifically engaged in as a part of what was called the "Triangular Trade." This profitable practice involved several stages. The first stage involved manufactured goods such as guns, beads, tobacco and cloth being taken from Europe to Africa. Guns were included because they helped the Europeans expand their empires, but they also helped them capture more slaves. This practice later backfired, when the guns were turned against the Europeans. But nevertheless, the goods that were brought to Africa were traded for African slaves.
The slaves were then shipped to the Western Hemisphere as the second stage of the Triangular Trade. The third and final stage of the practice was the return to Europe of precious metals and other products produced by slave labor, including gold, silver, molasses, cotton, tobacco and sugar. When the transatlantic slave trade began, African slaves were taken from Senegambia and the Windward Coast, but by the 1650s slaves were captured from West Central Africa in Angola and the Congo.
From fourteen forty to about sixteen forty, Portugal was actually the only country to export African slaves. Interestingly, they were also the last country in Europe to abolish the institution of slavery, although it continued to utilize slaves as contract laborers even after that practice was defunct. Britain was the worst transgressor during the height of the slave trade and during this difficult time in African history, though, with 2.5 million of the roughly 6 million slaves transported during that time directly Britain's responsibility.
African slaves were under terrible conditions during forced marches along the coast and during the beginning of the transport; it's estimated that fully -13% of them died before ever reaching their destinations. Most African slaves were shipped to the Caribbean, the Spanish Empire, and Brazil, with less than 5% traveling to North America.
Slavery had terrible effects that continue to be felt today. Descendants of African slaves can be found throughout the world, but not necessarily by their own choice. They are found wherever their ancestors were forcibly taken. Maulana Karenga, an African-American author and activist, perfectly described the slave trade and its horrible, long-lasting effects. He called the slave trade "the morally monstrous destruction of human possibility [which] involved redefining African humanity to the world, poisoning past, present and future relations with others who only know us through this stereotyping and thus damaging the truly human relationships among people of today." According to Karenga, African slavery didn't just destroy its African victims - it destroyed their language, their culture and their religion. In short, it destroyed the very essence of human possibility.
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You can learn more about African history and African slaves by watching the African Side movie. Visit the African Side website today by clicking on any of the links above to see the movie trailer.
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