Answer: After 1550, the maritime slave trade significantly increased because of a number of connected factors:
- Demand for Labor: As Europeans colonized the Americas, there was an increasing need for workers to operate the newly constructed plantations and mines. Diseases and unfavorable working conditions destroyed the native populations, necessitating the search for substitute labor.
- Sugar Revolution: During the 16th century, sugar production in the Americas developed into a tremendously lucrative industry. To meet the rising demand, large-scale sugar plantations needed a sizable labor force. Comparing African slaves to indigenous peoples and indentured servants, African slaves were thought to be a more reliable and efficient labor force.
- Economic motives: European countries, especially Portugal, Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands, were aware of the slave trade's potential for profit. Slave trade developed into a successful industry that brought in big bucks for traders and the trading nations. The trade gave people a way to buy pricey items made in the colonies, like sugar, tobacco, coffee, and other goods.
- Technological Developments: Long-distance trips became more feasible and effective with the construction of more sophisticated sailing ships like the caravel and galleon. These ships would be able to transport more slaves, boosting the trade's profitability.
- Legal Framework: European powers created legal frameworks that safeguarded and aided the slave trade through the use of royal charters and legal systems. For instance, the Portuguese and Spanish established the encomienda system, which provided newcomers with land and native labor. To aid with the slave trade, the British, Dutch, and French founded colonial organizations and commercial firms like the Dutch West India Company and the Royal African Company.
- Participation of African Kingdoms: The involvement of some African kingdoms in the slave trade contributed to the trade's growth. In exchange for European commodities, weapons, and other valuables, African monarchs who formed agreements with European traders were willing to capture and sell prisoners of war, criminals, or members of opposing ethnic groups as slaves.
Following 1550, the transatlantic slave trade and the ruthless exploitation of millions of Africans increased significantly due to the interaction of these elements, which continued the transatlantic slave trade.