Final answer:
Christopher Columbus is thought to have started the trade of enslaved persons from Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
The explorer thought to have started the trade of enslaved persons from Africa is Christopher Columbus. While Columbus is often associated with the discovery of the Americas, his voyages also initiated the transatlantic slave trade. During his expeditions, Columbus captured and enslaved indigenous peoples, taking them back to Europe as part of the emerging slave trade.
Learn more about the transatlantic slave trade