Slave Trade

Slave Trade

• As Exploration Continued --> a massive slave trade developed

• Slavery had existed before, but was a different institution– Limited in scope– Mainly with Middle East

Why did Europeans embrace slave trade?

• Supply and Demand

Demand• Economy of new world depended on massive

labor

• Labor demand - Sugar, cotton, tobacco, rice

• Native Americans died off and ran away

• Europeans wouldn’t do it

• Tremendous death rate – Cheaper to work them to death and replace– Harsh “Middle Passage” - high death rate

• Low levels of child birth - too expensive at first

Supply

• Economy of Africa became dependant on Slave Trade

• Europeans traded finished goods for slaves

• Destroyed domestic African industries

• Only significant industry was Slave Trade

Functioning of Slave Trade

• Africans initially enslaved individuals captured in battle, not born into institution

• Now known as Triangular Trade (Atlantic S.T.)1. As demand for slaves increased, it became an

industry w/in Africa as Warlords kidnapped strongest and most able bodied

• Europeans paid for slaves with manufactured goods (guns, textiles)

• Undermined development of any African economy• Europeans also began to colonize Africa

Functioning of Slave Trade

2. Middle Passage: Crossing the Atlantic– Harsh conditions, multi-decked ships– Served to break the will to resist - Dehumanize

Functioning of Slave Trade

3. Distribution: Caribbean islands served as central processing and distribution location– Slaves sold in groups (called lots) to regional

slave traders who then sold them throughout New World

Functioning of Slave Trade

• 4. End Sale: Regional slave sales took place– Plantation owners bought and sold slaves as

needed

Results

• Slave trade destroyed domestic economic development in Africa

• Millions of slaves transported to New World

• Africa was greatly weakened, allowing European countries to colonize