The African region was plagued by the institution of slavery for over a thousand years, and the majority of these slaves were shipped to the Americas. Beginning in the 16th century, European powers began to establish colonies in the Americas, and they relied heavily on the forced labor of enslaved Africans to work on plantations and in other industries. Millions of Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and transported across the Atlantic in brutal conditions, with many dying during the journey. The legacy of slavery in the Americas is still felt today, with many countries grappling with the ongoing effects of this tragic chapter in history.