Final answer:
Europeans viewed Africans through prejudiced and economically driven perspectives, which rationalized the brutal system of trans-Atlantic slavery, while Africans resisted this treatment and maintained their dignity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Europeans originally viewed Africans through various lenses, which included views shaped by primitivism and Orientalism. Africans were often seen as non-Christians and thus justified their enslavement for European enterprise. A notable portrayal is the figure of an African king by German medieval artists, reflecting Europeans' imaginings rather than accurate representations. The lucrative trans-Atlantic slave trade further solidified these prejudiced views, with Europeans exploiting African people for economic gain in the production of sugar and tobacco. Africans resisted this forceful deprivation of their sovereignty and were met with violence and cruelty.
Racial superiority became an entrenched notion to vindicate the harsh and inhumane system of slavery implemented by Europeans, perpetuating a constructed racial hierarchy that depicted Africans as primitive and subservient. Despite the harsh treatment, Africans continually resisted enslavement, maintaining their dignity in the face of systemic oppression.