The word “slavery” evokes unfathomable images of brutality, hardship, separation, pain and loss. The transatlantic slave trade was the largest trade which began in the 15th century. Over four centuries, Africans were seized from their homes and sold in Europe and the Americas, where they were forced into labour. Later, Africa was plundered for its natural resources. This had a detrimental impact on its society, economics and politics which left Africa devastatingly underdeveloped.
The transatlantic slave trade led to distrust among societies, ethnic fractionalization and many broken families. The common man who looked to the King for protection now felt threatened by him. As raids for slaves grew, it destabilized existing kingdoms and governments …show more content…
This fuelled slave trade and African societies got caught in the gun -slave cycle. Previous to the slave trade, identity and loyalty were based on membership of the society. Once slave trade started, coastal villages “became ports and trading posts for slaves. This encouraged ethnic and social division among societies” (The Development of Foreign Colonies). The rich betrayed their people and slave trade became their business. In turn, the rich got richer and the poor got enslaved. Due to requirements of slavery, there was a change in the cultural heritage of African families. Men were taken away and women were left behind to head the family. As a result, men never understood their patriarchal role leading to a “ ‘fatherless matrifocal (mother-centered) pattern’... Men, he claimed, did not learn roles of providing and protecting, and this shortcoming passed down through generations” (Williams). With urbanization, families experienced disorganization as there were no clear roles of men and women within the family. This caused frustration and instability. This can be seen in African families even today. The foundation of families is …show more content…
Depopulation made economic and agricultural advancement almost unimaginable in Africa. It "prevented the coming into being of an agrarian revolution in Ghana, and likewise an industrial revolution. Before you can industrialize you need to have stable agricultural production” (Ross) because a large percentage of men and women in their reproductive ages were taken. The Europeans left behind the elderly and dependent groups who were unable to contribute to economic growth. As trade opened up, it introduced new products into the African market like textiles and metal products. These cheaper and better-finished products found greater appeal than locally made products, thus any of the “existing manufacturing activities were either destroyed or denied conditions for growth” (Obadina). Africa's poor economy is one of the largest puzzles in growth and development economics. Evidence from case studies shows that the average per capita income was lowest in the region from where maximum slaves were shipped. “If the slave trades had not occurred, then 72% of the average income gap between Africa and the rest of the world would not exist today,” (Nunn, 2007) and African economy would not be as distinctive from the rest of the world. The weak GDP meant that African countries were not able to invest in the infrastructure and industry leading to underdevelopment today. There is a
The transatlantic slave trade led to distrust among societies, ethnic fractionalization and many broken families. The common man who looked to the King for protection now felt threatened by him. As raids for slaves grew, it destabilized existing kingdoms and governments …show more content…
This fuelled slave trade and African societies got caught in the gun -slave cycle. Previous to the slave trade, identity and loyalty were based on membership of the society. Once slave trade started, coastal villages “became ports and trading posts for slaves. This encouraged ethnic and social division among societies” (The Development of Foreign Colonies). The rich betrayed their people and slave trade became their business. In turn, the rich got richer and the poor got enslaved. Due to requirements of slavery, there was a change in the cultural heritage of African families. Men were taken away and women were left behind to head the family. As a result, men never understood their patriarchal role leading to a “ ‘fatherless matrifocal (mother-centered) pattern’... Men, he claimed, did not learn roles of providing and protecting, and this shortcoming passed down through generations” (Williams). With urbanization, families experienced disorganization as there were no clear roles of men and women within the family. This caused frustration and instability. This can be seen in African families even today. The foundation of families is …show more content…
Depopulation made economic and agricultural advancement almost unimaginable in Africa. It "prevented the coming into being of an agrarian revolution in Ghana, and likewise an industrial revolution. Before you can industrialize you need to have stable agricultural production” (Ross) because a large percentage of men and women in their reproductive ages were taken. The Europeans left behind the elderly and dependent groups who were unable to contribute to economic growth. As trade opened up, it introduced new products into the African market like textiles and metal products. These cheaper and better-finished products found greater appeal than locally made products, thus any of the “existing manufacturing activities were either destroyed or denied conditions for growth” (Obadina). Africa's poor economy is one of the largest puzzles in growth and development economics. Evidence from case studies shows that the average per capita income was lowest in the region from where maximum slaves were shipped. “If the slave trades had not occurred, then 72% of the average income gap between Africa and the rest of the world would not exist today,” (Nunn, 2007) and African economy would not be as distinctive from the rest of the world. The weak GDP meant that African countries were not able to invest in the infrastructure and industry leading to underdevelopment today. There is a