Between 1500 to 1880 CE around 10-12 million African slaves were moved to the Americas. 15% died during the journey. Although the Atlantic Slave Trade (via the Mediterranean) began in the late 1400's with Portuguese colonies in West Africa and Spanish settlement with the Americas short after. 48% of slaves went to the Caribbean, 41% to Brazil, and 5% to USA. Slavery began to override other criminal offences. Africans were captured by fellow Africans then sold to Europeans in trade for supplies such as metal tools, textiles and guns. Trading the Africans gave them value as property. This was, in some places, one of the only signs of wealth because the land was owned by the state.
Slaves did all kinds of work but mostly agricultural farming.
Slaves did all kinds of work but mostly agricultural farming.