The Essay Is About Atlantic Slave Trade And The Effects It Had (Essay Sample)

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The Atlantic slave trade
Introduction
Generally, a trade is perceived to be the exchange of goods and services. Trade has been in existence over the years. Before monetary terms came were introduced, trade used to happen by exchanging goods for goods or goods for services. However, there is another category of trade by the name of the slave trade. Slave trade has no definite definition. The only distinction is that it involved the exchange of people for goods. The people who were enslaved were either captured during wars which were common during that period or they were sold to cover for debts. Some were exchanged for firearms by their leaders. This trade existed for over three and half centuries. This paper looks at the Atlantic slave trade and its effects.
Atlantic slave trade came into existence in the middle of 15th century. It was first introduced by the Portuguese who sailed into West Africa looking for gold, spices among other commodities that were in demand in Europe. This time they realised a rare commodity that was also in demand. This was the African men women and children. The trade kicked off in low tones but it sprouted within in no time. Towards the end of the 15th century, the trade established its roots. The Atlantic trade got another name from the way it was being conducted. It came to be known as the triangular trade. The name came as a result of the geographical dealings of the trade. It was in form of three sides which were: from Europe to Africa, from Africa to the Americas and from the Americas back to Europe. Basically, the trade was transacted between sellers of the commodity (slaves) who were mostly kings and other African merchants and the European buyers.
The Atlantic slave trade had adverse effects. The most affected party was the slaves. From the way the slaves were obtained by the mode of transportation to where they were to work was a real torture. Most of the slaves were kidnapped and taken forcefully. Others were obtained through warfare while others were enslaved to pay for the debts that they had. There are some who offered to be enslaved to save their families from famine. It is evident that the slaves did not wish to be in the state that they found themselves in. they were forced by either circumstance or by people to be slaves. This was torture to them. They were separated from their families to go and work as slaves. Transportation was also another challenge that they had to go through. The journey from Africa to Europe was not an easy one for the slaves. The sheep carrying the slaves could take up to twelve weeks before docking in its destination. During this journey, the slaves could undergo a lot of torture. The slaves were normally chained. Those who looked weak were thrown into the sea. The slaves were underfed, some became ill on the way and they were not properly attended to and therefore succumbed and died, women were sexually abused, some committed suicide among much more vices that they had to face. many of the slaves died on the way. Those who arrived again had to face new challenges. they were in new territories which they were no accustomed to. Some were attacked by diseases of the new world they had to face. generally, the slaves suffered a lot in this trade.
The Atlantic slave trade had long lasting effects on the African continent. the trade had political, social and even economic effects on the continent. wars which were one of the ways of getting slaves plundered the continent into famine. Animosity arose between kingdoms in search of slaves. Socially, the Atlantic slave trade saw families loose their family members who were taken as slaves.the agony that the families who lost their loved ones in the trade were great. The wars that were initiated in order to capture slaves left many people dead, others wounded and the strong captured. the continent lost strong men and women who had skills that could have been an asset in building and developing the continent the Atlantic slave trade really affected Africa’s development. Mistrust among African leaders is still witnessed as they were made to fight against themselves during the trade to acquire slaves to exchange for guns and other commodities that they desired.
The Atlantic slave trade had impacts in Europe and the destinations of the slaves. the slaves were forced to work in plantations and mines. This was a positive gain to the economy of Europe. Through the slaves, wealth was acquired in Europe and the Americas. However, through the Atlantic slave trade played a crucial role in the development of Europe and America, there was the issue of the African population in the said areas. The population of the slaves rose tremendously as demand for cheap labour went high. In fact, more than half the number of Africans arrived in the Americas than the Europeans. The Africans were needed to work in the planta...