Final answer:
African slavery in the New World differed from other forms in its global economic significance, racial basis, and the scale and conditions of enslavement. It was a system where humans were commoditized to produce goods for capitalist expansion, with race being a key factor in enslavement.
Step-by-step explanation:
African slavery in the New World represented a fundamental shift from previous forms of slavery and labor. This system was characterized by its capitalist nature, profit generation for plantation owners, and the commodification of human beings. Transatlantic slave trade played a significant role in forming modern Western capitalist societies. Unlike prior forms of slavery, Africans were trafficked and enslaved on an unprecedented scale and worked to produce commodities like sugar and cotton, which were vital for economic growth. Furthermore, race became a defining factor for enslavement, with Europeans turning to Africa upon the Catholic Church's objections to enslaving fellow Christians.
In the New World, slavery was part of a larger global economic system, and European colonists relied heavily on Africans to work labor-intensive crops like sugar and coffee—reinforcing racial subjugation. The treatment of slaves before and during the Trans-Atlantic journey showed a severe dehumanization, processing captives as cargo. African and African-American slaves resisted at every stage, founding new communities and cultures in defiance of an oppressive system that lasted over four hundred years.