The Atlantic Slave Trade Portuguese established trading forts (factories) along the African coast. Permanent settlement. Other Europeans followed the Portuguese. Most forts were established with the approval of African authorities desiring trade benefits Some allowed trade to interior, establishing new markets.

Atlantic Slave Trade Missionary efforts followed, particularly in Benin and Kongo. Some successful. Europeans regarded Africans as pagan savages. Want to control the gold trade. Slavery becomes the focus of all European relationships. Development of sugar in the Americas

Expansion , 12 million Africans were shipped across the Atlantic million survive. Another 4 million may have died during initial contact. Many more toward the end. Brazil received over 40% of all slaves reaching the Americas. High slave mortality and low fertility (with exception of USA). Saharan slave trade to the Islamic world carried mostly women for sexual and domestic employment.

Expansion The Atlantic trade concentrated on young men. African societies that sold slaves might keep women and children for their own use. Creates population growth in West and Central Africa and skews population.

Organization Control over slave trade reflects European political situation. Portuguese initial supplies. Dutch then English become major competitors. French later on. Each nation established forts for receiving slaves. Tropical disease gave both resident Europeans and the crews high mortality rates.

Organization Slaves arrived at the coast as a result of warfare through indigenous traders How profitable was it? Does it spur the Industrial Revolution? Trade linked to plantation and mining economies and goods exchanged between Europe, African and America complex. Significant profits to traders. Does contribute to Atlantic capitalism and makes Africa dependent on European trade.

Trade Changes slavery in Africa Land controlled by state so slaves important for wealth Slaves held many occupations and treatment varied. Inland states free of European presence but had western influence become large. Western firearms and goods.