Effect Of The Slave Trade On Africa
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Effect Of The Slave Trade On Africa
The African Slave trade began as early as 1518 when the Portuguese sailed to Africa and brought back slaves with them to their countries (Cowley, et al 3). Almost twenty-eight million Africans were captured and enslaved to be part of the Atlantic slave trade between 1650 and 1900(web.cocc.edu). Sir Henry Johnston stated, "They came from Angola and the Congo, from Dahomey, Lagos, Old Calabar, and the Bonny River; from the central Niger and Haussaland; from Portuguese Guinea and the Gabon"(Crowley, et al 1). According to ucalgary.ca, "African tribal leaders traded the lives of Africans for items such as money, firearms, alcohol, iron goods, and textiles". Historyonthenet.com states that slavery was not new to the African continent and before the slave trade it was used as a form of punishment for serious offenses. The slave trade negatively affected the continent of Africa and its people. The slave trade touched the economy of Africa, the population of Africa, and the peoples of Africa.
Tribal leaders from Africa were the connection that Europeans used to get slaves from Africa. African Tribal leaders and kings easily traded their own people for the goods that the Europeans brought with them to trade. They were eager to get weapons that their enemies didn't have. Because of their new weapons, Tribal leaders started to claim other people's lands because they had bigger weapons and were much more powerful. Because of this other tribes were "pushed" into the slave trading system (ucalgary.ca). As the slave trade grew, Tribal leaders found it beneficial if they just invaded other lands and captured the land and people. The people captured they would trade for more guns or goods. This caused hate and violence between the two tribes causing more death and unnecessary war (Encarta). These wars between two tribes led to disease and famine (ucalgary.ca). Tribal leaders thought that trading slaves was very beneficial for themselves and their tribes...
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