Transatlantic Slave Trade

The Atlantic Slave Trade was an international trade carried amongst three continents; Europe, America, and Africa whose biggest commodity was enslaved Africans forced to migrate to America. For instance, between the year 1500 and 1800 over fifteen million Africans had been enslaved. They worked as artisans and domestic servants, but the largest percentage worked in the plantations whose crops were sold in the Atlantic Slave trade forming a cycle [1].

The slave trade especially peaked around the middle of 17th Century due to the increased demand for slaves to work in the rural mines and the extensive plantations in the new world. For instance, these being the earliest economic activities in the New World, slaves took a significant part in

The more the Europeans immigrated to America, the more the demand for African slaves increased. Naturally, this explained how the climax of migration of Europeans coincided with the peak of exports [12].

Racism did not take a role in why Europeans specialized in African slaves instead of crossing to other racial lines. By then, the Europeans were not racist yet. It was just easier to buy African slaves because Africans were already dealing with slavery by themselves. Prior to the transatlantic trade, Africans were both the slaves and the enslavers. They conducted slavery within themselves, and therefore, once foreigners came to offer them foreign goods especially weaponry, they exchange slaves for these new commodities [13].

Besides, the Europeans were not above enslaving other races. For example, the Romans had participated in enslaving the Greeks. Racism took root after extensive interaction with Africans. With their multiple explorations, Europeans realized that they owned better technology than other nations and races. Additionally, they saw Africans as barbaric creatures who needed to be regulated. With more interaction, they started seeing themselves as superior to the other

Additionally, others deserted their homes and went to live in the caves and mountains. Likewise, there were reports of explorers being attacked such as Explorer Alivise Ca’Damasto who was attacked by 150 men in the Gambia. Similarly, the increase of chains, whips, shackles, and guns in the slave ships were evident that Africans slaves had tried to resist thus need for these tools to subdue them. Additionally, the choice of location for the European barracoons showed the fear of attack. For example, in Senegal, the barracoons were located on islands, and thus, making it difficult to attack or to escape. Furthermore, among all the above evidence there are 420 revolts on slave ships documented and estimation of 100000 dead Africans as a result