Answer: The population was greatly reduced because so many people were enslaved.
Explanation: During the transatlantic slave trade, millions of Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and transported to the Americas to be sold into slavery. This had a devastating effect on the African population. Many people died during capture or transport, and the loss of so many healthy adults left communities struggling to provide for themselves. Additionally, the Europeans often encouraged and facilitated wars between different African groups to capture slaves. This led to further destabilization and violence in the region. Ultimately, the transatlantic slave trade greatly reduced the African population, and had far-reaching social and economic consequences.