How was trade between Europe and Africa before the 1400s different from those continents 1700s?

Before the 1400s, trade between Europe and Africa was limited and largely focused on luxury goods and resources such as gold, ivory, and spices. The main trade routes were through the Mediterranean Sea and across the Sahara Desert. African kingdoms such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai were important trading partners for Europeans. Arab merchants played a significant role in facilitating trade between Europe and Africa.

In the 1700s, trade between Europe and Africa had changed dramatically. The Portuguese had established a direct sea route to India around the Cape of Good Hope, which led to a decline in the importance of the Mediterranean and trans-Saharan trade routes. The rise of the Atlantic slave trade was another major factor that transformed trade between the two continents. European powers such as Britain, France, and Spain established colonies in Africa and began to forcibly transport millions of Africans to work on plantations in the Americas. This trade had a profound and devastating impact on African societies and economies.

Here are some specific differences between trade between Europe and Africa before the 1400s and in the 1700s:

1. Volume and Scope: Before the 1400s, trade between Europe and Africa was relatively small-scale and focused on specific luxury goods and resources. In the 1700s, trade expanded significantly in volume and scope, driven by the demand for slaves, as well as the growth of European colonies and the rise of capitalism.

2. Trade Routes: Before the 1400s, the main trade routes between Europe and Africa were through the Mediterranean Sea and across the Sahara Desert. In the 1700s, the direct sea route around the Cape of Good Hope became the primary route, connecting Europe directly with West Africa and Southeast Asia.

3. Economic Impact: Before the 1400s, trade with Africa had a limited impact on European economies. In the 1700s, the Atlantic slave trade and the expansion of European colonies in Africa generated enormous profits for European merchants, traders, and plantation owners.

4. Social and Political Impact: The growth of the Atlantic slave trade had a profound and devastating impact on African societies, leading to the forced displacement and enslavement of millions of Africans. It also contributed to political instability and social tensions in Africa.

5. European Presence in Africa: Before the 1400s, European presence in Africa was limited and primarily focused on trading posts and coastal settlements. In the 1700s, European powers established colonies and gained control of significant territories in Africa, leading to increased political and economic influence over the continent.