African Slave Trade Research Paper

The various slave trades in Africa did not have the same effects on the continent. In this paper I will examine three slave trades and explore their specific impact on Africa society. This paper will primarily examine the available historical evidence on what political, economic, social, cultural, and demographic effects each slave trade had on the regional area where they captured Africans. First I will explore the oldest slave trades in Africa, the trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean slave trades. Then I will examine the more recent and larger slave trade, the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, which occurred later in time.
The Indian Ocean slave trade also know as the Arab slave trade or Eastern slave trade evolved first around the Indian Ocean basin …show more content…
Socially, the demographics of western Africa greatly declined by the exportation of Africans. Researchers find that western Africa’s population declined from 25 million to 23 million in a 150-year period. The mass enslavement of Africans relied on the participation of some Africans so social systems that benefited Europeans at the expense of Africans were created. As European buyers demand for African captives increased African political leaders began to support the abduction and kidnapping of Africans. As a result, a social climate of insecurity and mistrust amongst Africans proliferated. African on the coast of Africa and the hinterland faced the threat of being kidnapped and sold to Europeans. The development of the economy was impacted by this threatening social climate that ultimately hindered the ability of Africans from doing business with a level of security. Nonetheless, communities that served as export centers on the coast were able to economically benefit from the trade as they were insulated from the social and political disorder. These communities had populations and economies that expanded due to their ability to produce products of