Final answer:
At the beginning of the slave trade, the economy of African tribes was greatly impacted by the demand for enslaved people by European traders. African political and economic elites played a primary role in capturing, transporting, and selling Africans to European slave traders. The transatlantic slave trade brought significant changes in the nature of slavery in Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economy of African tribes at the beginning of the slave trade was greatly impacted by the demand for enslaved people by European traders. African political and economic elites played a primary role in capturing, transporting, and selling Africans to European slave traders. The trade in enslaved people brought wealth to many African kingdoms and led to the expansion of slave-trading activities.
Enslaved people, mainly acquired through wars and debts, were considered valuable laborers and counted as a form of wealth. Taxes and tributary gifts were often paid in terms of enslaved people. The slave trade also resulted in population loss and disrupted traditional gender roles in African societies.
The transatlantic slave trade brought significant changes in the nature of slavery in Africa. European exploration and colonization led to the militarization of states and reoriented African trade. Overall, the slave trade had a profound impact on African economies, societies, and political structures.