African Slave Trade Research Paper

In both Africa and North America internal trade networks continued to connect the populations of both regions. However, with the discovery of North America, maritime trade networks greatly expanded between these and other regions. Also, the Colombian Exchange and the Triangular Trade led to the introduction of new goods to both of these regions. Internal trade networks existed in both Africa and North America in this period. Throughout this era, the African slave trade existed both internally and with Muslim groups. Even though throughout the early modern period, slave exportation rose drastically, slaves would continue to be sold along the coasts. As well, the Africans continued to utilize Trans-Saharan trade routes. The Trans-Saharan routes
were a way, beginning in the fourth century, to trade within Africa by land which consisted of seven primary routes. Traditional family structures and social arrangements would persist as the basis for much of the trade, also. The family and social structure continued to create a system of hierarchy between the people, creating more trading partners in both Africa and North America. In America, internal trade was present among the existing groups. Native American tribes had large trade networks set up between another. The arrival of the Europeans would alter this trade, a result of the large death poll that diseases had on the natives. However, for the tribes who survived their arrival, these trade networks would also continue. Throughout the period, different European groups would continue to take over parts of the continent(s). With the expansion of the Europeans into the Americas, the trade between these groups and the natives also expanded. A prime example of this is the fur trade between the French and natives. With the arrival with Columbus in 1492, North America rapidly went from an isolated state to one heavily connected with both Africa and Europe. Soon after its colonization, North America was connected with these continents via the triangular trade. This means America was sending raw materials to Europe and getting slaves from Africa. Likewise, Africa also increased in its interconnectedness. It began importing finished goods from Europe in exchange for the slaves it sent to America. Before the discovery of America, the slave trade existed mostly within Africa. The global demand for these slaves greatly increased in this era, and so did Africa’s exportation as a result. With this increased interconnectedness, the Colombian Exchange would soon begin.
This would result in the arrival of new products as well as the exportation of goods in both regions. In America, slaves were the new product introduced. These slaves were used to fill the gap of human labors needed to work on the large plantations of America. As well, the Colombian Exchange would lead to the introduction of a variety of new plants and animals to North America, potatoes, maize and horses being prime examples. As well, diseases including small pox reached America, killing off a large percent of Native Americans. Finally, new technologies such as guns reached the continent. In Africa, the Colombian Exchange led to the high importation of manufactured goods in exchange for the slaves. These included guns and rum. Despite the population loss during the slave trade, the introduction of key American crops would also lead to a growth in Africa’s human population. In both Africa and North America trade networks connected both regions and populations. Maritime trade networks greatly expanded between these and other regions. Also, the Colombian Exchange and Triangular Trade routes led to the introduction of new goods to both of these
regions.