The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

8/7/2019 The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

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The TransThe Trans--AtlanticAtlantic

SlaveSlave TradeTrade

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The TransThe Trans--Atlantic SlaveAtlantic Slave TradeTrade

The TransThe Trans--Atlantic Slave Trade began aroundAtlantic Slave Trade began aroundthe midthe mid--fifteenth century when Portuguesefifteenth century when Portuguese

interests in Africa moved away from the fabledinterests in Africa moved away from the fableddeposits of gold to a much more readilydeposits of gold to a much more readilyavailable commodityavailable commodity ---- slaves. By theslaves. By theseventeenth century the trade was in full swing,seventeenth century the trade was in full swing,reaching a peak towards the end of thereaching a peak towards the end of the

eighteenth century. It was a trade which waseighteenth century. It was a trade which wasespecially fruitful, since every stage of theespecially fruitful, since every stage of thejourney could be profitable for merchantsjourney could be profitable for merchants ---- thetheinfamous triangular trade.infamous triangular trade.



Why did the Trade Begin?Why did the Trade Begin?

Expanding European empires in the New WorldExpanding European empires in the New Worldlacked one major resourcelacked one major resource ---- a work force. Ina work force. Inmost cases the indigenous peoples had provedmost cases the indigenous peoples had proved

unreliable (most of them were dying fromunreliable (most of them were dying fromdiseases brought over from Europe), anddiseases brought over from Europe), andEuropeans were unsuited to the climate andEuropeans were unsuited to the climate andsuffered under tropical diseases. Africans, on thesuffered under tropical diseases. Africans, on theother hand, were excellent workers: they oftenother hand, were excellent workers: they oftenhad experience of agriculture and keeping cattle,had experience of agriculture and keeping cattle,they were used to a tropical climate, resistant tothey were used to a tropical climate, resistant totropical diseases, and they could be "workedtropical diseases, and they could be "workedvery hard" on plantations or in mines.very hard" on plantations or in mines.



Was Slavery New to Africa?Was Slavery New to Africa?

Africans had been traded as slaves forAfricans had been traded as slaves forcenturiescenturies ---- reaching Europe via thereaching Europe via the

IslamicIslamic--run, transrun, trans--Saharan, trade routes.Saharan, trade routes.Slaves obtained from the MuslimSlaves obtained from the Muslimdominated North African coast howeverdominated North African coast however

proved to be too well educated to beproved to be too well educated to betrusted and had a tendency to rebellion.trusted and had a tendency to rebellion.



What was the TriangularWhat was the Triangular

Trade?Trade? The first stage of the Triangular TradeThe first stage of the Triangular Trade

involved taking manufactured goods frominvolved taking manufactured goods from

Europe to Africa: cloth, spirit, tobacco,Europe to Africa: cloth, spirit, tobacco,beads, cowrie shells, metal goods, andbeads, cowrie shells, metal goods, andguns. The guns were used to help expandguns. The guns were used to help expand

empires and obtain more slaves (until theyempires and obtain more slaves (until theywere finally used against Europeanwere finally used against Europeancolonizers). These goods were exchangedcolonizers). These goods were exchangedfor African slaves.for African slaves.




Trade?Trade? The second stage of the Triangular TradeThe second stage of the Triangular Trade

(the middle passage) involved shipping(the middle passage) involved shipping

the slaves to the Americas.the slaves to the Americas.




Trade?Trade? The third, and final, stage of theThe third, and final, stage of the

Triangular Trade involved the return toTriangular Trade involved the return to

Europe with the produce from the slaveEurope with the produce from the slave--labor plantations: cotton, sugar, tobacco,labor plantations: cotton, sugar, tobacco,molasses and rum.molasses and rum.



How Did the Europeans ObtainHow Did the Europeans Obtain

the Slaves?the Slaves? Between 1450 and the end of theBetween 1450 and the end of the

nineteenth century, slaves were obtainednineteenth century, slaves were obtained

from along the west coast of Africa withfrom along the west coast of Africa withthe full and active cothe full and active co--operation of Africanoperation of Africankings and merchants.kings and merchants.



Conditions for the SlavesConditions for the Slaves

Slaves were introduced to new diseasesSlaves were introduced to new diseasesand suffered from malnutrition long beforeand suffered from malnutrition long before

they reached the new world. It isthey reached the new world. It issuggested that the majority of deaths onsuggested that the majority of deaths onthe voyage across the Atlanticthe voyage across the Atlantic -- thethemiddle passagemiddle passage -- occurred during the first occurred during the first

couple of weeks and were a result of couple of weeks and were a result of malnutrition and disease encounteredmalnutrition and disease encounteredduring the forced marches andduring the forced marches andsubsequent interment at slave camps onsubsequent interment at slave camps on

the coast.the coast.



Survival Rate for the MiddleSurvival Rate for the Middle

PassagePassage Conditions on the slave ships wereConditions on the slave ships were

terrible, but the estimated death rate of terrible, but the estimated death rate of

around 13% is lower than the mortalityaround 13% is lower than the mortalityrate for seamen, officers and passengersrate for seamen, officers and passengerson the same voyages.on the same voyages.

The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

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