Final answer:
The Atlantic Slave Trade began in the late 15th century, largely fueled by plantation labor demands, and resulted in the forced transportation of an estimated 9.6 to 11 million Africans. African kingdoms often facilitated the trade by selling captives to European traders, and Europeans benefitted economically while the enslaved endured immense hardship. The trade's legacy continues to impact the world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Atlantic Slave Trade began in the late 15th century, with Portugal playing a key role in initiating the large-scale transportation of African slaves. Most slaves were forced into labor on plantations, particularly on sugar plantations, which were labor-intensive and played a significant role in the demand for slave labor. It is estimated that between 9.6 to 11 million African slaves were transported to the New World during the span of the trade.
According to W.E.B. Du Bois, the African slave trade was a catastrophic event that removed people from Africa and placed them in treacherous conditions, underscoring the extreme brutality and human suffering that defined this era. Enslavement within Africa was common, with powerful African kingdoms and traders selling captives to Europeans in exchange for goods. However, the treatment and systems of slavery within Africa often differed from the chattel slavery that developed in the Americas, where slaves were treated as property without any rights.
European nations often relied on mercantilism, viewing colonies as sources of raw materials and markets for finished goods, thus strengthening the demand for cheap labor provided by African slaves. The slave trade provided significant economic benefits for Europeans but imposed severe suffering on the enslaved individuals, who struggled to maintain their dignity and humanity. The legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which interconnected racism, economic exploitation, and the transformation of societies, is a continuing issue, affecting Africa and the diaspora to this day.