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Motives for the slave trade revolved around wealth. African kings sold their own people into slavery for money, and the Europeans needed slaves to work their plantations. Africans were considered the best slaves because they were more resistant to disease and they were less likely to run away. Slave traders could also make a considerable profit shipping slaves.
From the 16th to 19th centuries, millions of people were shipped from Africa to the New World in what would become known as the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. This slave trade was one of three components of the Triangle Trade, a trading link between Africa, tropical America, and Europe.
The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
Diagram of a slave ship
A slave ship on the way to Spain
Lasting Impacts Political: caused many wars due to people capturing others to sell to the traders; foreign relations within Africa declined Religious: the slave trade caused enormous cultural chaos, undermining traditional religions Social: many adult males were taken away; families were disrupted and torn apart; there was significant depopulation Economic: while the Africans who captured and sold slaves realized private gains, European trading companies kept Africa on the path towards colonialism and underdevelopment.
Conditions on the slave ships were terrible, with an overall mortality around 12.5%. The cramped, unsanitary spaces the slaves were kept in helped spread many fatal diseases, and prisoners had to sit in their own filth. These horrible conditions led many slaves to taking their own lives by jumping overboard.
