| It's sorrowful to realize that such an enormous part | | | | silver, molasses, cotton, tobacco and sugar. When |
| of African history relates to the African slave trade. | | | | the transatlantic slave trade began, African slaves |
| This was the unlucky era in which African men, | | | | were taken from Senegambia and the Windward |
| women and youngsters were ripped from their | | | | Coast, but by the 1650s slaves were held from West |
| homes and sold to serve as slaves in other regions | | | | Central Africa in Angola and the Congo. |
| of the planet. | | | | Portugal was the first EU country to export African |
| When Europe's New World empires started to | | | | slaves, and it was the only country taking part in the |
| flourish, their rulers discovered that an intensive | | | | slave trade between 1440 and about 1640. That |
| workforce was needed to cope with all of the new | | | | same country was the last in Europe to abolish |
| land. This need for large numbers of workers became | | | | slavery, but even after the slave trade was stopped, |
| the momentum behind the transatlantic slave trade. | | | | Portugal continued to use slaves as contract laborers. |
| African slaves brought over to do the work were | | | | Britain was the biggest slave-exporting country during |
| ideal for the job - they understood farming and cattle | | | | the peak of the transatlantic slave trade. That |
| management, and they were accustomed to working | | | | country alone was in charge of 2.5 million out of the |
| in hot tropical climates. Beginning the 15th century, | | | | roughly six million African slaves that were |
| many African people were held and brought to the | | | | transported during this tricky period in African history. |
| New World colonies in order to work in mines or on | | | | African slaves endured terrifying conditions in the |
| enormous farms and plantations. | | | | transportation process. Forced marches through |
| Surprisingly, using African slaves wasn't a new idea. | | | | Africa and cheap shipboard conditions caused a |
| African slavery had been going on for centuries, and | | | | projected 13% of all African slaves to die before |
| it was not solely the invention of evil EU colonizers. | | | | reaching their intended destinations. Those that |
| Sadly , from about 1450 to the end of the 19th | | | | survived were sent to the Caribbean, the Spanish |
| century, African sovereigns and merchants | | | | Empire and Portugal's Brazil. Less than 5% were sent |
| cooperated absolutely with slave traders. Agree with | | | | to north America.the effect of slavery are still felt |
| it or not, these privileged Africans were really | | | | today. Descendants of African slaves are scattered |
| enthusiastic participants in the African slave trade. | | | | throughout the world because that's where their |
| The transatlantic slave trade was unique in that it | | | | ancestors were forcibly taken. African-American |
| was specifically engaged in as a part of what was | | | | author and activist Maulana Karenga described the |
| called the'Triangular Trade.' This profitable practice | | | | slave trade and its effects as'the morally monstrous |
| concerned many stages. The first stage involved | | | | elimination of human possibility ... Poisoning past, |
| made products such as guns, beads, tobacco and | | | | present and future relations with others who only |
| material being taken from Europe to Africa. Guns | | | | know us through this stereotyping and thus damaging |
| were included because they helped the europeans | | | | the really human relations among folk of today.' In |
| expand their empires, but they also helped them | | | | fact, he claimed, African slavery didn't destroy just |
| capture more slaves. This practice later backfired, | | | | the people who lived through that period of African |
| when the guns were turned against the europeans. | | | | history - it destroyed their language, their culture, and |
| But nonetheless, the products that were brought to | | | | their faith, and it destroyed the essence of'human |
| Africa were traded for African slaves. | | | | possibility.' |
| The slaves were then shipped to the Western | | | | You can learn more about African history and African |
| Hemisphere as the second stage of the Triangular | | | | slaves by watching the African Side movie. Visit the |
| Trade. The 3rd and last stage of the practice was | | | | African Side internet site today by clicking on any of |
| the return to Europe of dear metals and other | | | | the links above to see the film trailer. |
| products produced by slave labor, including gold, | | | | . |