How Did Trade Affect European Trade

As the Europeans began to explore the atlantic, they had hoped to discover new trade routes and connections. However, they fell into a much more impactful role that would lead to the development of the new world trade system. From the mid 1400’s through the 1700’s, Europeans, especially the Portuguese, were the leading force behind the Atlantic slave trade, which greatly affected West Africa, the Americas, and all of Europe. Focusing on West Africa and the Europeans, the Kingdom of the Kongo and the state of Niumi were impacted substantially, although in different ways. According to The Human Record, European trade impacted the Kingdom of the Kongo in a few significant ways. Although trade with different groups is not emphasized or discussed
In fact, in order to appease these issues, Afoso wrote two letters to King Jao in 1526 (Andrea and Overfield, 76). In these letters Afonso addressed that the Kongo’s population was rapidly decreasing due to the high exportation of slaves, and he was upset because his noblemen as well as extended family were being taken and sold into slavery by the Portuguese without his permission which was putting the security and peace of the kingdom at stake (Andrea and Overfield, 77). In addition, European disease was running rampid in the Kongo, further weakening and decreasing the population. Therefore, Afonso requested two physicians, two apothecaries and one surgeon to help his population and to ensure that trade with Portugal could continue (Andrea and Overfield, 77). Lastly, Alfonso was insulted that these slaves were being branded because of the Portuguese's invalid way of getting these slaves so he asked that the “white men” must inform three noblemen and/or officials before they can purchase slaves (Andrea and Overfield, 78). The king of Portugal responded in the year 1529 complying to his requests and suggests that Afonso initiate a designate spot in his state for slave trade and slave tracking (Andrea and Overfield, 78). These letters were precisely how Afonso gained back and maintained power after the Portuguese had taken it from them by overstepping their bounds. Afonso was able to
For example, English and French traders settled in the Caribbean to have their own sugar plantations, so they travelled to West Africa for slaves (Wright, 86). In fact, by 1700 between 1.5 and 2 million Africans had been moved to the Americas to work on sugar plantations (Wright, 87). As the Atlantic trade became a more prominent trade route, European peoples competed to fortify trading posts with Africa, so they negotiated with the current Mansa of Niumi (Wright, 87-89). For example, the English charted company sent an expedition to set up an outpost in the Gambia, and its leaders negotiated with Niumi’s mansa and then gained English presence in the river that would remain longer lasting than any other European nation (Wright, 89). Plus, the French gained trading rights in West Africa after they negotiated with Niumi’s mansa for a plot of land that became a tradin post (Wright, 90). Therefore, Niumi rulers became landlords for trading diasporas of these European nations, making them money and giving them power (Wright, 90). The tax and rent Niumi was able to collect from the Atlantic complex allowed for a great stability that was previously lost after the slave raides from the