Final answer:
African rulers played a significant role in the development of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Some rulers engaged in the capture and sale of slaves, while others resisted the trade. Overall, African rulers contributed to the slave trade by capturing and selling slaves and negotiating with European traders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The African rulers played a significant role in the development of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Some African rulers engaged in the capture and sale of slaves to European traders, as enslaved captives were often acquired through war or as payment of debts. African political and economic elites were responsible for capturing, transporting, and selling Africans to European slave traders on the African coast. European traders had to negotiate with powerful African chiefs to acquire African slaves. African rulers sought tribute and fair trading terms before allowing Europeans to purchase slaves.
African rulers did not have a unified stance on the Atlantic Slave Trade. While some African rulers actively participated in the slave trade and benefited from the wealth it brought, others opposed the trade and resisted European involvement. As Native Americans did, Africans also resisted European encroachments on their lands and efforts to deprive them of their sovereignty.
Overall, African rulers played a major role in the development of the Atlantic Slave Trade. They contributed by engaging in the capture and sale of slaves, negotiating with European traders, and benefiting economically from the trade. However, it is important to note that the capture and sale of Africans for enslavement was primarily carried out by the Africans themselves, especially the coastal kings and the elders.