The Role of the Africans and Europeans in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
Did African's participate in the Atlantic Slave Trade as equal partners, or were they the victims of European power and greed?
The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade (TAST) was the selling of and transportation of slaves from African lands across the Atlantic to lands such as Brazil, Spanish Empire, British, French, Dutch and Danish West Indies, the British North America and US, along with Europe. It is estimated that as many as 13 million slaves left African ports (although only 11 million arrived to their various destinations). The Portuguese led this trade, delivering the slaves to Portuguese Brazil. The TAST lasted for more than 400 years, throughout the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Sugar, Coffee, Cotton and Tobacco were the major reasons why Europeans purchased slaves, the slaves were used as labour to harvest the crops for eventual export.
As with any division of a historical event, the need for finding a truth is a priority. Why the TAST came into existence seems to be clear, but with varying accounts. Advancements in technology were growing at a pace in this period in time leading to the opening of routes between Europe and the Atlantics.
The Portuguese first set sail in 1419 to discover foreign lands in technologically advanced boats that could navigate the Atlantic Ocean.
History shows that Prince Henry the Navigator (Dom Henrique), the son of King João of Portugal, played a very important role in the TAST. But as discussed in ‘Herbert Klein’s’ literature – Internal and international slave trades existed in Africa before the arrival of the Europeans (Klein, pg. 105). One could then assume that the TAST was simply fashioned out of a pre-existing and established market running throughout African lands.
Therefore the TAST is a difficult subject to discuss; it is a complex issue with varying accounts from an amalgamation of viewpoints. After reading more on the subject, several important difficulties involved in the slave trade make it difficult
The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade (TAST) was the selling of and transportation of slaves from African lands across the Atlantic to lands such as Brazil, Spanish Empire, British, French, Dutch and Danish West Indies, the British North America and US, along with Europe. It is estimated that as many as 13 million slaves left African ports (although only 11 million arrived to their various destinations). The Portuguese led this trade, delivering the slaves to Portuguese Brazil. The TAST lasted for more than 400 years, throughout the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Sugar, Coffee, Cotton and Tobacco were the major reasons why Europeans purchased slaves, the slaves were used as labour to harvest the crops for eventual export.
As with any division of a historical event, the need for finding a truth is a priority. Why the TAST came into existence seems to be clear, but with varying accounts. Advancements in technology were growing at a pace in this period in time leading to the opening of routes between Europe and the Atlantics.
The Portuguese first set sail in 1419 to discover foreign lands in technologically advanced boats that could navigate the Atlantic Ocean.
History shows that Prince Henry the Navigator (Dom Henrique), the son of King João of Portugal, played a very important role in the TAST. But as discussed in ‘Herbert Klein’s’ literature – Internal and international slave trades existed in Africa before the arrival of the Europeans (Klein, pg. 105). One could then assume that the TAST was simply fashioned out of a pre-existing and established market running throughout African lands.
Therefore the TAST is a difficult subject to discuss; it is a complex issue with varying accounts from an amalgamation of viewpoints. After reading more on the subject, several important difficulties involved in the slave trade make it difficult
References: Thomas, H. (2006). The Slave Trade. Phoenix press. Eltis, D. (2006). The Rise of African Slavery in the Americas. Cambridge University Press. Davidson, B. (1986). The Story of Africa. London, Mitchell Beazley. Klein, H. (1999). The African Organization of the Slave Trade. Cambridge University Press. Blackburn, R. (1998). The Making of New World Slavery 1492-1800. Eltis, D. (2006). The Rise of African Slavery in the Americas. Cambridge University Press. Davidson, B. (1986). The 'Gun-Slave Cycle ' . In The Story of Africa. London, Mitchell Beazley. Klein, H. (1999). The African Organization of the Slave Trade. Cambridge University Press. Klein, H. (1999). The Atlantic Slave Trade. Cambridge University Press. Thomas, H. (2006). The Slave Trade. Phoenix press. Thornton, J. (1998). Africa and Africans in the Making of the Atlantic World 1400-1800. Cambridge University Press.