ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
As European explorers carried out their voyages during the Age of Exploration, they came into contact with many different groups of indigenous peoples in places such as the Americas and Africa. Soon, Europeans began to view these people as commodities – something to be bought and sold. The Slave Trade would begin in the mid-15th century, reach its peak in the 18th century and conclude near the end of the 19th century. During the time of the Atlantic Slave Trade, approximately 12 million to 20 million Africans were put on slave ships, sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and sold into slavery. While some historians disagree on the exact number of Africans forced into the Atlantic Slave Trade it was, regardless, a tremendous number of people. This made it one of the largest human migrations in history and certainly the largest forced migration in history.
For European merchants, a reliable work force was needed in the New World in order to work on plantations in order to grow crops, such as: tobacco, sugar, and cotton. The indigenous peoples of the Americas proved inadequate because most were dying from European diseases and a large enough population could not be kept to act as a work force. Europeans themselves were unsuited for the climate of the Americas (especially in Central and South America) and suffered from tropical diseases. Africans, therefore, were an excellent choice to act as slave labor in the New World, because they usually were experienced with the work required (general farming) and they were used to a tropical climate and resistant to tropical diseases.
The enslavement of Africans and the Atlantic Slave Trade would result in the “trade triangle” between the Americas, Europe and Africa. European traders would export manufactured goods (metal tools, textiles, tobacco, beads, etc.) to the societies of west coast Africa in exchange for African slaves. These African slaves were from other societies (usually from Africa’s interior) then the west coast societies. Next, the African slaves were put aboard European slave ships and taken to the Americas to be sold for huge profits. Here the slaves would be put to work on plantations in order to harvest raw materials. The final stage of the “trade triangle” involved European traders taking the harvested raw materials from the plantations back to Europe where they would be processed into goods in European factories. The most notable of these raw materials included: sugar, cotton, coffee, metals, and tobacco.
Life aboard the slave ships for African slaves was terrible. Slaves suffered in cramped conditions (each slave only had 4 square feet of space) and the lower decks received poor air circulation meaning the stench would linger and lead to horrible air quality. Some slaves would choose to jump overboard and drown (if they could escape their chains) rather than suffer onboard the ship any further. The conditions for slaves in the New World were not much better. Once they arrived, they would be sold at auction to plantation owners. Many plantation owners would “brand” their slaves, very much as is common with cattle. Once on the plantation, the life of a slave would be dominated by work with long hours and under extreme conditions. Slaves also suffered abuse and torture on these plantations at the hands of the plantation owners and overseers. Because of this, the average life expectancy of a slave was low with slaves in Brazil averaging 23 years of age.
While North America has a well-documented history of its role in the Atlantic Slave Trade, it was not necessarily the destination of most African slaves. For example, the Caribbean received approximately 48% of slaves, while Brazil received approximately 40%. In contrast, the United States received about 5% of the total population of African slaves.
The early years of the Atlantic Slave Trade were dominated by the Portuguese. However, Britain would go on to play the largest role in the transport and sale of African slaves. Regardless, the Atlantic Slave Trade was incredibly beneficial to European and other western nations, especially economically. The inexpensive labor meant that plantation owners were able to keep more of their profits and were able to amass large fortunes. As well, the harvested raw materials greatly benefitted European industries as they were able to use the raw materials to created manufactured goods.
The early years of the Atlantic Slave Trade were dominated by the Portuguese. However, Britain would go on to play the largest role in the transport and sale of African slaves. Regardless, the Atlantic Slave Trade was incredibly beneficial to European and other western nations, especially economically. The inexpensive labor meant that plantation owners were able to keep more of their profits and were able to amass large fortunes. As well, the harvested raw materials greatly benefitted European industries as they were able to use the raw materials to created manufactured goods.
