The slave trade involved a network of traders, merchants, and individuals who engaged in the capture and transportation of Africans to work as unpaid laborers in plantations, mines, and other industries. The process began in Africa, where powerful African leaders, rival tribes, and European slave traders would engage in wars, raids, and kidnappings to obtain able-bodied individuals to be sold as slaves.
Once captured, the enslaved individuals underwent harrowing journeys across the Atlantic Ocean in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. The transatlantic slave trade, often referred to as the Middle Passage, resulted in the deaths of millions of captives due to disease, malnourishment, and inhumane treatment. Those who survived were subjected to various forms of torture and abuse throughout the journey.
Upon arrival at their destinations, enslaved individuals faced a lifetime of forced labor, harsh living conditions, and constant fear and degradation. They were stripped of their identities and often branded as property. Families and communities were torn apart, and enslaved people were denied basic human rights and freedoms.
The slave trade also fueled the expansion of colonial powers and the economic growth of European nations. The profits generated from the exploitation of enslaved individuals played a significant role in shaping global trade, politics, and society during that era.
The transatlantic slave trade persisted for over three centuries until the abolitionist movement gained momentum in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, the legacy of the slave trade continues to impact the lives of people of African descent around the world, contributing to ongoing racial inequalities, prejudices, and discrimination.