Development of the Slave Trade

Definition

The development of the slave trade refers to the historical process that led to the establishment and expansion of a system where people, particularly from Africa, were captured, sold, and forced into slavery by European powers.

Analogy

Think of it like a dark version of global supply chain management. Just as companies today source materials from different parts of the world for production, European powers sourced human beings from Africa for labor in their colonies during this grim period.

Related terms

Middle Passage: This term refers to the part of the trade triangle where Africans were shipped across the Atlantic Ocean under horrific conditions to be sold as slaves in America and Europe.

Triangular Trade: This was a three-way system of trade during 1600-1800s. Africa sent slaves to America, America sent raw materials like cotton and tobacco to Europe, and Europe sent guns and rum to Africa.

Colonialism: This is a practice or policy where powerful countries establish rule over weaker regions or countries for economic gain. It's closely related because colonial powers often used enslaved Africans for labor in their colonies.