Slavery began around 1440 when the Portuguese started to trade with West Africa in slaves. Later the slave trade business became organized with the western European countries who were involved. The slave trade had its challenges and did not run as smoothly as expected because many slaves revolted and attempted to run away. This challenge, notwithstanding slave trade, thrived and expanded and led to the “Triangle Trade” this is trade between Africa, Europe and the Americas. This trade of slaves led to Africans finding their way to the western world through forced migration.
The trade of slaves began because labourers were needed to work in the European plantations and mines. The African slaves were found to be physically fit to provide heavy labour. Slaves were captured and put in slave factories where they awaited transportation to a land far away.
Spain and Portugal were countries that traded in slaves in great numbers in Europe. Other slaves were sold in New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Britain, which was the biggest trader in slave trade, Denmark, France, Germany etc. Many slaves died from hard labour, malnourishment and diseases. Others preferred to take their lives than go through the inhuman treatment they were going through. Those who tried to escape were punished severely. Others were hanged for deterring those who wanted to run away.
The slaves were captured from their villages, or they would be sold by their African kings. Some of these would organize expeditions to capture slaves from their neighbouring tribes, and when they did not capture enough slaves, they would sell their own people.
The Trans-Atlantic slave trade had an impact on the African continent. The impact was negative and affected people at a personal level, the communities and even the nations involved. The individuals were uprooted from their families, and this led to separation. The families suffered psychologically, and many suffered because their breadwinners had been taken away. The individuals suffered more when they were taken to foreign lands. They were given inhuman treatment, and they found themselves lost because they did not belong in the foreign countries and they could not go back home. Some lost their lives in the captive forts and on the way when they suffered from malnutrition.
The communities lost members who had a stake in the communal activities. The strong men who would protect the communities against invasion were no longer there. The communities became vulnerable to external attacks. Many old people and children died during the attacks. During the attacks, agricultural activities could not go on and thus, those left behind suffered from famine. On the national level, the countries lost a lot of their resources which was taken to the western countries. Thus, their economy could not improve as all or most of their sources had been depleted by the colonial masters.
Not only was the population reduced, but the Africans had to run and hide from would-be captors, which stagnated their economic and technological advancement, and this could explain why Africa lags behind in the technological arena. The continent was left underdeveloped, and this made it easier for the Europeans to colonize them.
Slave trade helped Europe and America to develop. The slaves provided cheap labour for them to develop their countries. For example, in Britain, cities like London, Liverpool developed as a result of this trade. This also led to people from Africa living in across Europe and the Americas. This also led to the development of racism.