It is unknown the exact moment that slavery was birthed into such an intricate institution. Beginning from the early days of colonization, the idea of slavery gradually spread into an empire, dominating the western parts of Africa and further spreading into parts of Europe and what is now America. Slavery became an advocate for the economic progression within Africa. The desire for money, power and security motivated this complex system of slavery and the political, economic, religious and labor demands collectively made the institution of slavery more complex. Many people also justified slavery as a beneficial alternative because it provided the basic necessities of life, and was believed to be religious in nature; however Ishmael Beah provides
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The idea of trading captured slaves was a benefit that was discovered early for many of the African societies who were already practicing slavery. However, as the need grew in both Europe and the New World for help in producing things such as sugar, tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton there was also a need for those who could provide that labor rather inexpensively (Wright). “During the Atlantic slave trade there were outlets for all the captives… the European market absorbed adult men… the other continental African market provided an outlet mostly for women and children and had little use for adult men” (Meillassoux 62). These demands outside of Africa’s borders for slaves was also a driving force for slavery and pushed for the development of a merchant class. The merchant class consisted of those who would capture the slaves in exchange for things like wool, glass, and copper (Meillassoux 45). This is one of the reasons why slavery became so complex and more than just a simple exchange because slavery affected every other part of life as well in a sort of domino effect. Africans became the only source of labor in the New World, which of course increased the demand for slaves. Those who bought the slaves would give the Africans many goods such as firearms, liquor, iron and other items that were useful to the sellers (Wright). The advantage of selling more slaves allowed communities and individuals to prosper and thrive thus granting them more power so slavery continually fueled a fire of desire and gave many a chance for a better life even at the cost of someone else’s
The idea of trading captured slaves was a benefit that was discovered early for many of the African societies who were already practicing slavery. However, as the need grew in both Europe and the New World for help in producing things such as sugar, tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton there was also a need for those who could provide that labor rather inexpensively (Wright). “During the Atlantic slave trade there were outlets for all the captives… the European market absorbed adult men… the other continental African market provided an outlet mostly for women and children and had little use for adult men” (Meillassoux 62). These demands outside of Africa’s borders for slaves was also a driving force for slavery and pushed for the development of a merchant class. The merchant class consisted of those who would capture the slaves in exchange for things like wool, glass, and copper (Meillassoux 45). This is one of the reasons why slavery became so complex and more than just a simple exchange because slavery affected every other part of life as well in a sort of domino effect. Africans became the only source of labor in the New World, which of course increased the demand for slaves. Those who bought the slaves would give the Africans many goods such as firearms, liquor, iron and other items that were useful to the sellers (Wright). The advantage of selling more slaves allowed communities and individuals to prosper and thrive thus granting them more power so slavery continually fueled a fire of desire and gave many a chance for a better life even at the cost of someone else’s