Final answer:
Africa became a major source of slave labor for the Americas starting in the 16th century, with millions of Africans being forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean to work on plantations and mines. This transatlantic slave trade had a profound impact on both African societies and the economies of the Americas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The continent that became a major source of slave labor for the Americas beginning in the 16th century was Africa. African slaves were forcibly taken from their homelands and transported across the Atlantic Ocean to work on plantations and in mines in the Americas.
This transatlantic slave trade was driven by the demand for labor on the plantations of European colonies in the Americas, particularly in countries such as Brazil, the United States, and the Caribbean islands. African slaves were considered a valuable commodity and were seen as a crucial labor force for the production of crops such as sugar, tobacco, cotton, and coffee.
Millions of Africans were captured and sold into slavery during this period, facing unimaginable hardships and suffering. The slave trade had a devastating impact on African societies and cultures, and it helped shape the economies and societies of the Americas.
Learn more about The transatlantic slave trade